2019 Kalakaua Merrie Mile Elite Field
The Kalakaua Merrie Mile in Waikiki, is road racing at its finest and purest.
An incredible field of international Olympians and top 1500m and mile runners will compete at the 2019 Kalakaua Merrie Mile.
The event is run as a gender challenge. The women get a head start and the first to cross the line, irrespective of gender wins!
| Bib | Name | Gender | Country | DOB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edward Cheserek | Male | Kenya | 1994 | 3:33.76/3:49.44 (i) |
| 2 | Nick Willis | Male | NZ | 1983 | 3:29.66/3:49.83 |
| 3 | Craig Huffer | Male | Aus | 1989 | 3:36.35/3:57.81(i) |
| 4 | Brimin Kiprono | Male | Kenya | 1999 | 3.35.32/3:59.43 |
| 5 | Johnny Gregorek | Male | USA | 1991 | 3:35.00/3:49.98(i) |
| 6 | Pat Casey | Male | USA | 1990 | 3:35.32/3:52.62 |
| 7 | Eric Avila | Male | USA | 1989 | 3:36.37/3:55.43 |
| 8 | Patrick Joseph | Male | USA | 1995 | 3:39:87 (1500)/3:57:62 |
| F1 | Shannon Osika | Female | USA | 1993 | 4:01.80/4:25.47 |
| F2 | Rachel Schneider | Female | USA | 1991 | 4:02.26/4:20.91 |
| F3 | Amanda Eccleston | Female | USA | 1990 | 4:03.25/4:25.64 |
| F4 | Elinor Purrier | Female | USA | 1995 | 4:02.34/4:24.88 |
| F5 | Nikki Hiltz | Female | USA | 1994 | 4:01:52/4:31:42(i) |
| F6 | Taryn Rawlings | Female | USA | 1996 | 4:10.20/4:36.00 |
| F7 | Sharon Lokedi | Female | Kenya | 1994 | 4:24.00 (1500)/4.45.46(i) |
| F8 | Therese Haiss | Female | USA | 1995 | 4:14:44 (1500)/4:34:54(i) |
Starts in Waikiki at 7am, Saturday December 7.
Event Info
Edward Cheserek Kenya 1994 
Merrie Mile History: 1st, 2017, 3:58.1; 1st, 2018, 3:54.83 (event record; fastest mile ever in Hawaii)
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.44i, Boston, Feb. 9, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:33.76i, Boston, Feb. 9, 2018
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.44i, Boston, Feb. 9, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:33.76i, Boston, Feb. 9, 2018
Nick Willis New Zealand (1983) 
Merrie Mile History: 4th, 2017, 4:03.6; 6th, 2018, 4:00.78
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.83, Oslo, June 11, 2014; 1500m Personal Best, 3:29.66, Monaco, July 17, 2015
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.83, Oslo, June 11, 2014; 1500m Personal Best, 3:29.66, Monaco, July 17, 2015
Craig Huffer Australia 1989 
Personal Bests: Mile, 3:57.81; 1500m, 3:36.35
Instagram: @craig.huffer
. 5th 2019 Kalakaua Merrie Mile, 3:58 (7th 2018)
Instagram: @craig.huffer
. 5th 2019 Kalakaua Merrie Mile, 3:58 (7th 2018)
Amanda Eccleston USA (1990)
Merrie Mile History: 11th (5th woman), 2018, 4;42.49
Mile Personal Best: 4:25.64, Raleigh, August 5, 2016; 1500m Personal Best, 4:03.25, London, July 22, 2016
Mile Personal Best: 4:25.64, Raleigh, August 5, 2016; 1500m Personal Best, 4:03.25, London, July 22, 2016
Shannon Osika USA 1993 
Merrie Mile History: 3rd (2nd woman), 2016, 4:29.5; 8th (2nd woman), 2018, 4:33.2
Mile Personal Best: 4:25.47, Memphis, Aug. 25, 2018; 1500m Personal Best: 4:01.80, Chrozow, Sep. 14, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 4:25.47, Memphis, Aug. 25, 2018; 1500m Personal Best: 4:01.80, Chrozow, Sep. 14, 2019
Rachel Schneider USA 1991
Merrie Mile History: 10th (4th woman), 2018, 4:38.30
Mile Personal Best: 4:20.91, Monaco, July 12, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 4:02.26+, Monaco, July 12, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 4:20.91, Monaco, July 12, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 4:02.26+, Monaco, July 12, 2019
Johhny Gregorek USA (1991)
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.98i, Boston, March 3, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.00, New York, May 8, 2015
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.98i, Boston, March 3, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.00, New York, May 8, 2015
Eric Avila USA (1989)
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 3:55.43, Memphis, August 25, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:36.37, Padua, July 17, 2016
Mile Personal Best: 3:55.43, Memphis, August 25, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:36.37, Padua, July 17, 2016
Pat Casey USA (1990)
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 3:52.62, Dublin, July 11, 2014; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.32, Oordegem, July 5, 2014
Mile Personal Best: 3:52.62, Dublin, July 11, 2014; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.32, Oordegem, July 5, 2014
Sharon Lokedi Kenya
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 4:45.56i, Lexington, Feb. 3, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 4:24.00, Lawrence, Apr. 20, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 4:45.56i, Lexington, Feb. 3, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 4:24.00, Lawrence, Apr. 20, 2019
Elinor Purrier USA (1995)
Making Merrie Mile Debut
Mile Personal Best: 4:24.88i, Boston, Jan. 26, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 4:02.34, Rome, June 6, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 4:24.88i, Boston, Jan. 26, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 4:02.34, Rome, June 6, 2019
Taryn Rawlings USA (1995)
Personal Bests: Mile, 4:24.09; 1500m, 4:05.02
Instagram: @taryn.nicole2
College: University of Portland
Instagram: @taryn.nicole2
College: University of Portland
Nikki Hiltz USA, Lululemon ![]()
Mile PB: 4:16.35
Merrie Results: 1st, 2023, 4:28.07; 2nd, 2022, 4:27.5; 6th, 2019, 4:40.5
3rd 2024 World Indoor 1500m: 2x USA 1500m champ
Merrie Results: 1st, 2023, 4:28.07; 2nd, 2022, 4:27.5; 6th, 2019, 4:40.5
3rd 2024 World Indoor 1500m: 2x USA 1500m champ
Therese Haiss USA (1994)
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 4:34.54i, College Station, March 11, 2017; 1500m Personal Best, 4:14.44, Portland, June 10, 2018
Mile Personal Best: 4:34.54i, College Station, March 11, 2017; 1500m Personal Best, 4:14.44, Portland, June 10, 2018
Brimin Kiprono Kenya (1999)
Making Merrie Mile debut; running only his second race in the United States
Mile Personal Best: 3:59.43, Cambridge, May 19, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.32, Monaco, July 12, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 3:59.43, Cambridge, May 19, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.32, Monaco, July 12, 2019
Patrick Joseph USA (1995)
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 3:57.62, Raleigh, Aug. 2, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 3:39.87, Azusa, July 9, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 3:57.62, Raleigh, Aug. 2, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 3:39.87, Azusa, July 9, 2019
Edward Cheserek Kenya 1994
Merrie Mile History: 1st, 2017, 3:58.1; 1st, 2018, 3:54.83 (event record; fastest mile ever in Hawaii)
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.44i, Boston, Feb. 9, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:33.76i, Boston, Feb. 9, 2018
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.44i, Boston, Feb. 9, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:33.76i, Boston, Feb. 9, 2018
Nick Willis New Zealand (1983)
Merrie Mile History: 4th, 2017, 4:03.6; 6th, 2018, 4:00.78
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.83, Oslo, June 11, 2014; 1500m Personal Best, 3:29.66, Monaco, July 17, 2015
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.83, Oslo, June 11, 2014; 1500m Personal Best, 3:29.66, Monaco, July 17, 2015
Craig Huffer Australia 1989
Personal Bests: Mile, 3:57.81; 1500m, 3:36.35
Instagram: @craig.huffer
. 5th 2019 Kalakaua Merrie Mile, 3:58 (7th 2018)
Instagram: @craig.huffer
. 5th 2019 Kalakaua Merrie Mile, 3:58 (7th 2018)
Amanda Eccleston USA (1990)
Merrie Mile History: 11th (5th woman), 2018, 4;42.49
Mile Personal Best: 4:25.64, Raleigh, August 5, 2016; 1500m Personal Best, 4:03.25, London, July 22, 2016
Mile Personal Best: 4:25.64, Raleigh, August 5, 2016; 1500m Personal Best, 4:03.25, London, July 22, 2016
Shannon Osika USA 1993
Merrie Mile History: 3rd (2nd woman), 2016, 4:29.5; 8th (2nd woman), 2018, 4:33.2
Mile Personal Best: 4:25.47, Memphis, Aug. 25, 2018; 1500m Personal Best: 4:01.80, Chrozow, Sep. 14, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 4:25.47, Memphis, Aug. 25, 2018; 1500m Personal Best: 4:01.80, Chrozow, Sep. 14, 2019
Rachel Schneider USA 1991
Merrie Mile History: 10th (4th woman), 2018, 4:38.30
Mile Personal Best: 4:20.91, Monaco, July 12, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 4:02.26+, Monaco, July 12, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 4:20.91, Monaco, July 12, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 4:02.26+, Monaco, July 12, 2019
Johhny Gregorek USA (1991)
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.98i, Boston, March 3, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.00, New York, May 8, 2015
Mile Personal Best: 3:49.98i, Boston, March 3, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.00, New York, May 8, 2015
Eric Avila USA (1989)
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 3:55.43, Memphis, August 25, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:36.37, Padua, July 17, 2016
Mile Personal Best: 3:55.43, Memphis, August 25, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:36.37, Padua, July 17, 2016
Pat Casey USA (1990)
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 3:52.62, Dublin, July 11, 2014; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.32, Oordegem, July 5, 2014
Mile Personal Best: 3:52.62, Dublin, July 11, 2014; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.32, Oordegem, July 5, 2014
Sharon Lokedi Kenya
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 4:45.56i, Lexington, Feb. 3, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 4:24.00, Lawrence, Apr. 20, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 4:45.56i, Lexington, Feb. 3, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 4:24.00, Lawrence, Apr. 20, 2019
Elinor Purrier USA (1995)
Making Merrie Mile Debut
Mile Personal Best: 4:24.88i, Boston, Jan. 26, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 4:02.34, Rome, June 6, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 4:24.88i, Boston, Jan. 26, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 4:02.34, Rome, June 6, 2019
Taryn Rawlings USA (1995)
Personal Bests: Mile, 4:24.09; 1500m, 4:05.02
Instagram: @taryn.nicole2
College: University of Portland
Instagram: @taryn.nicole2
College: University of Portland
Nikki Hiltz USA, Lululemon ![]()
Mile PB: 4:16.35
Merrie Results: 1st, 2023, 4:28.07; 2nd, 2022, 4:27.5; 6th, 2019, 4:40.5
3rd 2024 World Indoor 1500m: 2x USA 1500m champ
Merrie Results: 1st, 2023, 4:28.07; 2nd, 2022, 4:27.5; 6th, 2019, 4:40.5
3rd 2024 World Indoor 1500m: 2x USA 1500m champ
Therese Haiss USA (1994)
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 4:34.54i, College Station, March 11, 2017; 1500m Personal Best, 4:14.44, Portland, June 10, 2018
Mile Personal Best: 4:34.54i, College Station, March 11, 2017; 1500m Personal Best, 4:14.44, Portland, June 10, 2018
Brimin Kiprono Kenya (1999)
Making Merrie Mile debut; running only his second race in the United States
Mile Personal Best: 3:59.43, Cambridge, May 19, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.32, Monaco, July 12, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 3:59.43, Cambridge, May 19, 2018; 1500m Personal Best, 3:35.32, Monaco, July 12, 2019
Patrick Joseph USA (1995)
Making Merrie Mile debut
Mile Personal Best: 3:57.62, Raleigh, Aug. 2, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 3:39.87, Azusa, July 9, 2019
Mile Personal Best: 3:57.62, Raleigh, Aug. 2, 2019; 1500m Personal Best, 3:39.87, Azusa, July 9, 2019