Following the sad passing of David Torrence, who was the defending champion and meet record holder, the men’s race was renamed the David Torrence Mile, with the trophy re-named the Torrence cup.

Before the race, Meet Director and close friend Kyle Merber said: “The passing of David has transformed (this race) into an event with a much larger mission. This meet is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the incredible athlete and person that was David Torrence. Naming the race after him is just one more way to keep his memory and impact alive.”

In a tight contest at St. Anthony’s High School, O’Hare lead early in the race, clocking 2:00 after two laps. With the pacer stepping off the track for the penultimate lap Merber positioned himself at the front of the pack, before 26-year-old O’Hare took charge again at the bell with 400m to go. Despite the efforts of Nick Willis chasing him down the home stretch, O’Hare clinched victory in impressive fashion, posting 3:56.22.

Nick Willis of New Zealand was second in 3:56.41, with American Johnny Gregorek Jr. third in 3:57.50.

As the rest of the field crossed the finish line they all gathered to share a moment of remembrance for David Torrence.

Following the race, O’Hare said on Twitter: “This one is for you D.T.”

Watch The David Torrence Mile at @HokaLIMile https://t.co/yDB2YUJk3V pic.twitter.com/slHqYW9vvk

— RunnerSpace (@runnerspace) September 7, 2017

In the women’s race, American Emily Lipari kicked impressively to clinch victory from compatriot Brenda Martinez. Lipari crossed the line in 4:28.84, with Martinez posting 4:28.96 for second place. Hannah Fields completed the podium places in 4:30.32.

Irish athlete, Ciara Mageean, who had the fastest lifetime best going into the race, finished 10th in 4:35.61.

Watch the women's elite mile at @HokaLIMile https://t.co/5K8MdRZh5S pic.twitter.com/ciFL5BOZyV

— RunnerSpace (@runnerspace) September 7, 2017

The post Chris O’Hare Wins Emotional David Torrence Mile appeared first on Fast Running.

Torrence, who passed away sadly last week, was the two-time mile champion and holds the race record. In remembrance, meet director and close friend Kyle Merber has renamed the elite men’s race the David Torrence Mile.

The 31-year-old, represented Peru at the World Championships in London this summer, after switching allegiances for the Olympics Games in 2016. In 2014, when competing for the USA, Torrence won a silver medal at the World Relay Championships.

In addition to the renaming of the men’s race to the David Torrence Mile, a moment of remembrance will honour Torrence, the trophy will be re-named the Torrence cup, and all Hoka athletes competing in the meet will be running with “DT” on their race bib.

Today we lost an amazing athlete and an even greater friend pic.twitter.com/TDrD0mLkUn

— Kyle Merber (@TheRealMerb) August 29, 2017

“The Long Island Mile was created with the intent of inspiring our young, local fans and connecting them with the elite athletes of the sport,” said Kyle Merber.

“However, with the passing of David earlier this week this race has transformed into an event with a much larger mission. He was a friend to so many who will be racing on Wednesday and this meet is now an opportunity to remember and celebrate the incredible athlete and person that was David Torrence. Naming the race after him is just one more way to keep his memory and impact alive,” he added.

Looking at the races, ten Olympians are on the start lists at the Hoka One One Long Island Mile, including New Zeland’s two-time Olympic medalist Nick Willis and Great Britain’s Chris O’Hare in the David Torrence Mile, and Irish athlete Ciara Mageean in women’s mile race.

Willis, who 1500m silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and bronze in Rio 2016, is joined by fellow recent World Championships 1500m finalists Johnny Gregorek Jr. of the USA and Great Britain’s Chris O’Hare.

O’Hare said on Twitter: “No better way than to remember our good friend than doing what he loved most – Racing hard and fast.”

Joining them in the hunt for victory are American Craig Engels,  Meet Director Merber, and Australian Olympian Ryan Gregson.

In the women’s mile race, Ireland’s Ciara Mageean and Linden Hall of Australia lead the field, with Amerian duo Brenda Martinez and Emily Infeld also in contention.

Irish middle-distance runner Mageean is the fastest amongst the field with a life time best of 4:22.40. The 25-year-old, who clocked her personal best at the Anniversary Games in London in July, will aim to put a disappointing World Championships behind her with a strong performance on the St. Anthony’s High School track.

Australian Hall is the second fastest on the start list, with 4:23.96, also ran in London.

American pair Martinez and Infeld are both World Championships medalists and have every chance of podium spots.

Martinez won 800m bronze at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow and Infeld claimed a 10,000m bronze in Bejing 2015. Over the mile, the pairs personal bests are 4:26.7 and 4:31.5 respectively.

Below you can find the start lists for the men and women’s races, and a free live stream can be found here.

The David Torrence Mile
Name, Country  – Mile Personal Best
Kyle Merber, USA – 3:52.2
Eric Avila, USA – 3:56.5
Johnny Gregorek, USA – 3:53.1
Ryan Gregson, Australia – 3:52.2
Colby Alexander, USA – 3:54.9
Sam McEntee, Australia – 3:57.8
Nick Willis, New Zealand – 3:49.8
Garrett Heath, USA – 3:53.1
Pat Tiernan, Australia – 3:57.5
Craig Engles, USA – 3:57.6
Chris O’Hare, Great Britain – 3:52.9
Graham Crawford, USA – 3:56.0

The Sayville-Smithtown Running Company Mile
Emily Lipari, USA – 4:31.6
Ciara Mageean, Ireland – 4:22.4
Lauren Johnson, USA – 4:25.0
Genevieve LaCaze, Australia – 4:32.1
Heidi See, Australia – 4:33.3
Brenda Martinez, USA – 4:26.7
Hanna Fields, USA – 4:28.3
Emily Infeld, USA – 4:31.5
Cory McGee, USA – 4:28.5
Kate VanBuskirk, Canada – 4:28.0
Linden Hall, Australia – 4:23.9

The post David Torrence to be Honoured at Hoka One One Long Island Mile appeared first on Fast Running.

“There were no obvious signs of foul play,” said a police statement, and his death remains under investigation.

The 31-year-old represented Peru in the 1500m at the World Championships in London earlier this month, after switching allegiances for the Olympics Games in 2016.

Prior to that, when competing for the USA, Torrence won a silver medal at the World Relay Championships in 2014.

Torrence, who was born in Okinawa, Japan, and grew up in California, holds the American indoor record for 1000m.

The track world lost a great friend and athlete today. Rest in peace, David Torrence. pic.twitter.com/iaCtDuFErk

— USATF (@usatf) August 29, 2017

Gabriele Grunewald, the inspirational American professional runner, said: “I am absolutely broken hearing about David Torrence. One of the best humans I’ve ever met, I will miss him deeply.”

While Leo Manzano, the 1500m silver medalist at the 2012 Olympics in London, said: “It saddens me to hear about my former team-mate David Torrence. My heart goes out to him and his family.”

The post Olympian David Torrence Dies At Age 31 appeared first on Fast Running.