Some hard slog at the Nick Willis training school is paying dividends for Wellington runner and Olympic hopeful Hamish Carson.

Carson's flowing golden locks and springy running style have long been a feature of the New Zealand athletics scene and he is now making his move internationally.

The Scottish Harriers athlete has spent the last month with Willis at his Michigan training base and yesterday shaved 2.48 seconds off his 1500m personal best in Philadelphia.

In a race paced by Olympic silver medallist Willis, Carson ran 3min 38.04s in finishing eighth at Swarthmore College and is closing in on the Olympic `A' qualifying time of 3min 35s.

"Yeah, I'm about halfway there now," Carson said as he contemplated his rapid improvement.

"I came here having to take five seconds off my time and I've got two and a half so I've just got an extra two and a half to go. It was a pretty quick sort of meeting, amazing."

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