Well Matched Fields Should Provide Thrilling Finishes in New York

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. – Deep and talented fields will line up Wednesday evening in New York, contending for more than $20,000 in prize money at the HOKA ONE ONE Long Island Mile at Bay Shore High School. 

The 2019 HOKA ONE ONE Long Island Mile will be streamed live for free beginning at 7:00pm ET with the community races, followed by the professional races starting at 8:30pm ET. Fans can watch live on RunnerSpace.

The Sayville-Smithtown Running Co. Women’s Mile

With some tremendous talent lined up for Wednesday’s women’s race, Amanda Eccleston’s meet record of 4:26.87 (set in 2016) will certainly be challenged and a $5,000 meet record bonus up for grabs.

While the talent in the field sees a number of athletes enter Wednesday’s contest in fine form, a handful of athletes showcased their fitness a couple weeks ago at the Aetna Falmouth Elite Mile. 

Veterans Heather Kampf and Katie Mackey duked it out for second, with Kampf pulling away to victory in 4:31.24, while Mackey earned third in 4:31.69. Mackey was building her season coming off a tenth place showing in the 1500m final at the USATF Outdoor Championships.

In fourth overall at Falmouth, Eleanor Fulton built off her 11thplace finish in the 1500m at the USATF Outdoor Championships with a 4:32.39 effort, while veteran Dana Giordano placed fifth in 4:33.07 and Lianne Farber took home seventh and will look to redeem herself coming off a disappointing 4:43.33.

2017 champion and top returnee, having finished fourth last year, Emily Lipari should contend. Not only did the BAA runner make the 5000m final at the USATF Outdoor Championships, but she’s run a handful of 1500m and mile races this season between indoor and outdoor and should be able to at least lower her season best.

Other notable frontrunners this year include Lauren Johnson and Kate Van Buskirk. Johnson qualified for the 1500m final at the USATF Outdoor Championships, finishing 12th, while continuing a strong season with a runner-up finish at the Sir Walter Miler running 4:28.14. And while Van Buskirk has yet to finish a race in 2019, she is the second returnee from 2018, where she finished sixth overall.

Meet record holder Amanda Eccleston is entered and continues to race herself into prime shape. The former University of Michigan runner has gone under 4:16 for 1500m five separate times in 2019 and ran 4:29.54 for the mile indoors.

Rounding out the field, Heidi See, who finished third at the Adrian Martinez Classic in the mile, is entered, along with Megan Mansy, Emily Richards and Angel Piccorillo.

David Torrence Men’s Mile

While the men’s field will be hard pressed to challenge the meet record of 3:53.91, set by David Torrence in 2015, the depth of the field could push the entire roster of athletes under the four minute barrier. 

Similar to the women’s race, a number of competitors competed just over two weeks ago at the Aetna Falmouth Elite Mile. While Josh Thompson, the race winner, will not be competing Wednesday, the next three finishers will be.

David Ribich, who trains with the Brooks Beasts placed second, breaking the four minute barrier with a 3:59.78 clocking. Add that performance to his 3:37.44 season best in the 1500m, which is the best season best in the field, and Ribich has the look of a pre-race favorite. 

Behind Ribich, Tripp Hurt placed third with a 4:00.57 time, while Daniel Herrera placed fourth in 4:00.86. Herrera is the top returnee from the 2018 HOKA ONE ONE Long Island Mile, having placed seventh.

Riley Masters also raced at Falmouth. Masters, who lives and trains in Boulder, Colorado, has focused more on the 5000m this season. However, the veteran is one of the more versatile American runners and took home a seventh place finish in Falmouth in 4:02:46.

Similarly, Andy Bayer has focused most of his attention this season on the steeplechase, an event he qualified to compete in at the IAAF World Championships after finishing third at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Bayer owns the fastest mile personal best in the field with a mark of 3:52.90, but that was set back in 2013. He’s in prime shape though and should contend for top three.

Kyle Merber, who founded and organizes the event Wednesday, is also in great racing shape, having won a 1500m race at the Ed Murphey Classic in mid-August. 

Also entered, multi-time NCAA champion Morgan McDonald is entered. The former University of Wisconsin standout had a memorable senior season in Madison, establishing himself as the premier distance runner at the NCAA level. Now a professional and competing for Australia next month at the IAAF World Championships in the 5000m, McDonald will have a chance to fine tune his speed on Long Island.

A number of other top performers are entered Wednesday who saw success at the USATF Outdoor Championships earlier this summer. Tim Gorman was a 1500m finalist in Des Moines, while Dillon Maggard, Travis Mahoney and Jeff Thies placed 13th, 14thand 16thin the 5000m. Maggard will be one to watch, also owning a season best of 3:37.43 for 1500m this season. 

Other entrees include Graham Crawford and Nick Harris.