Merber plans celebration of Torrence's life at Long Island race

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Kyle Merber said Tuesday he was still trying to comprehend the shock of David Torrence's untimely death while figuring out how to honor his friend and competitor at next week's HOKA ONE ONE Long Island Mile. 

Merber is putting the event together for the third year in a row. Torrence was the guy who agreed to come in 2015 and make the race something that people would pay attention to.

"He was such a big part of the meet," said Merber, who works with the Sayville Running Company and Hoka to put on the event, in addition to racing at it. "He did me a huge favor that first year by even coming and trusting that I could pull it off. He made it (matter) that first year. To come and run a 3:53 at a meet that was a nothing event, it added legitimacy."

Merber was moments away Monday from announcing the field for the Sept. 6 race at St. Anthony's High when he saw the news bulletin that Torrence's body had been pulled out of an Arizona swimming pool. Details about what happened to him have not yet been made public. 

"Part of what makes it so difficult is that you see him constantly (at meets)," Merber said. "I had been talking to him almost every day. I was supposed to pick him up at the airport and bring him home with me like I did the last two years. For so many of us, he was one of our own. We raced countless times. Immediately after we crossed the finish line we'd have a cool down together."

Merber has a few plans in place ahead of next week's race. 

Not only is the men's race going to be re-named in Torrence's honor, there will be a trophy -- the Torrence Cup -- that is engraved with his name twice for his wins in 2015 and 2016. 

"I think it's an incredible opportunity to celebrate his life and memory and career," Merber said. 

Torrence wore a personalized bib the past two years at the race: DT. Merber said he and others would race with "DT" on their chests next week. Lane One will be left open during introductions.

In 2015, Merber related that Torrence signed autographs for hundreds of kids until the lights went dark at St. Anthony's, located in Huntington. Then, after the lights had dimmed and every autograph had been signed, Torrence began doing sets of plyos and push-ups. 

Both years, Torrence led a parade of seven men under four minutes in the mile.

"I think he would want the show to go on as planned," Merber said. "That's the type of guy and athlete he was."