New Zealand have had to sit back and watch Nick Willis' hopes of another athletics World Championships diminish

The veteran middle distance runner failed to meet the qualifying standards and was relying on an invitation from athletics' governing body, but it was never granted.

The IAAF allows small countries to include an athlete if they didn't meet the criteria, but all spots were taken in Willis' event.

Athletics New Zealand High Performance director Scott Goodman says the entire process was in the hands of the IAAF.