New Zealand Olympian Nick Willis ran the year’s fastest mile to shatter John Walker’s long-standing national record at the Boston Indoor Grand Prix on Saturday.

Willis powered home in a personal best of three minutes, 51.61 seconds to take down 1976 Olympic champion Walker’s national indoor record of 3:52.8.

Walker, the first person to run the outdoor mile in under 3:50, set his indoor mark at San Diego in 1981 and equalled it a year later.

“I knew my speed was there and I could finish strongly,” said Willis.

Six other season bests for 2015 were set in the meeting, including former world 1,500m champion Jenny Simpson’s national record 9:18.35 in the two mile run.

American Simpson had heartbreakingly lost the same race last year when she miscounted the laps for the event and stopped before eventually finishing.

“I just ran lap 16 so I don’t get fined,” Simpson joked on Twitter.

World indoor champion Ryan Whiting became the first to heave the shot more than 21 metres this year when he turned back former outdoor world titlist Christian Cantwell with a toss of 21.43n.

There were also fastest times of the year in the infrequently run 1,000m set by Americans Matthew Centrowitz (2:17.00) and Treniere Moser (2:37.86).

Ethiopian Dawit Seyaum added another yearly best when she ran the 2,000 metres in 5:35.46.

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