Jeff Benjamin wrote this piece on the upcoming HOKA ONE ONE Long Island Men’s Mile. Jeff, as we have come to expect, will cover both the Long Island and NYRR Fifth Avenue miles this upcoming week.
HOKA ONE Mile Preview- Men’s Race – from Jeff Benjamin
In a week from now, thousands of track fans will gather at St. Anthony’s HS Track in Long Island for what has become an annual rite for American Mile fans. The HOKA ONE ONE Mile, now in its 3rd year, will be bringing in top mile runners who will be competing for prize money, as well as for their pursuit of the excellence they all have a passion for. Yet, one of those who followed their passion will not be amongst them.
Two-time Champion (& the ONLY Men’s Champ in its 2-year history!) David Torrence passed away suddenly and tragically earlier this week. The Olympic runner’s death has sent shockwaves through the worldwide running community. Yet while saddened family, fans, competitors and friends are all grappling with what happened, event creator, director and top Miler Kyle Merber has still kept on, as has the field of men’s competitors who will be gathering in Long Island next Wednesday night, no doubt honoring their late fellow Sportsman and honing their own passions for the Sport that they, and Torrence, love.
As Brit Miler Chris O’Hare tweeted, “No better way than to remember our good friend than doing what he loved most — Racing hard and fast.”
New Zealand Olympic 1500 Medalist Nick Willis also tweeted, “Will be an emotional race. David Torrence ran tough, so we will do the same to honor him.”
Besides O’Hare and Willis, also racing tough and hard will be a top notch field of milers led by pacemaker Daniel Winn and including Merber, Johnny Gregorek, Australian Ryan Gregson, Colby Alexander and Craig Engels, who won his first professional Mile race in Falmouth last week.
Without a Doubt, it will be a night like no other.
Bell Lap—
–For more info, go to http://www.longislandmile.
–There are also community mile races taking place prior to the start of the elite races listed on the website.
–Four days after the HOKA Mile, many of the competitors will be lining up in NYC for the NYRR 5th Avenue Mile.
