Craig Mottram, the bronze medallist in the 5000 meters at this year's World Championships, will headline the inaugural Wanganui Mayoral Mile in Wanganui, New Zealand, on Saturday, Feb. 11.

In a race gathering the region's premiere middle distance runners, the 25-year-old Australian is slated to compete against Nick Willis and Adrian Blincoe, New Zealand's top milers. A first place prize of NZD $10,000 (USD $7050) has been donated by the city's Mayor, Michael Laws.

In his standout 2005 season, Mottram eclipsed New Zealander John Walker's 23-year-old Oceania record in the mile, clocking 3:48.98 at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway in July, two weeks before his third place performance in the 5000 meters at the World Championships. The Oceania record holder at 2 miles (8:11.27), 3000 (7:37.30) and 5000 meters (12:55.76), Mottram capped his season with a win at the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City in September, clocking 3:49.9.

Willis, an NCAA standout while at the University of Michigan, is the second fastest-ever New Zealander in the mile, trailing only Walker. This year, the 22-year-old Willis clocked 3:53.43 in the Oslo race, and broke Walker's national record in the 1500 meters at the Gaz de France meeting in Paris with a 3:32.38 performance.

Blincoe, an NCAA star for Villanova, has a mile best of 3:54.40. The field will also include New Zealanders Paul Hamblyn, Ben Ruthe and Rees Buck; Australians Mark Fountain and Mark Tucker; and Briton Tom Mayo, who is currently based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Organizers are also hoping to attract a top regional women's field as well.

The race, part of a day-long schedule featuring mass participation and celebrity races, will take place in the eastern New Zealand city's Cooks Gardens, where Peter Snell set a world record of 3:54.4 in the mile in 1962.