Kyle Merber

In 6th grade, Merber began sprint training with Charlie Bell, a local high school coach from New Jersey.{{cite web|url=http://www.runnersworld.com/rt-web-exclusive/kyler-merber-is-back-on-track|author=Anna Hiatt|title=Runner's World: Kyle Merber is Back on Track|date=April 11, 2012|accessdate=February 16, 2016}} He would practice sprinting with a bungee cord tied to him for strength development. Merber attended Half Hollow Hills West High School in New York, where he competed in cross country and track. During high school he was successful in a wide range of events, posting personal bests of 1:53 in the 800 meters and 9:06 in the 3200 meters.

Merber first attended Columbia University, where he specialized in the mile and 1500. At Columbia, Merber set the Ivy League indoor mile record when he finished in 3:58.52 at the 2010 Columbia Last Chance meet at the Armory.http://columbiaspectator.com/2010/03/08/sophomore-merber-breaks-ivy-record-358-mile Gregory Kremler. Columbia Spectator: Sophomore Merber breaks Ivy record with 3:58 mile. March 8, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2016 That summer, however, Merber stepped on a piece of glass during a training run near his home on Long Island, which put him out of competition for a year.{{cite web|url=http://www.runnersworld.com/newswire/brief-chat-kyle-merbers-breakthrough|author=Peter Gambaccini|title=Runner's World: Brief Chat: Kyle Merber's Breakthrough|date=May 16, 2012|accessdate=February 16, 2016}} Merber had a resurgent senior year, and in May 2012, at the Swarthmore Last Chance Meet, he outkicked Nate Brannen to set an American collegiate 1500 meter record in 3:35.59. He graduated from Columbia in 2012.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=13 July 2020|title=AitN: July 13, 2020|url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/latest/alumni-news/aitn-july-13-2020|access-date=July 13, 2020|website=Columbia College Today}}

The following school year, Merber enrolled in a masters program at the University of Texas at Austin, where he used his remaining year of NCAA eligibility resulting from his missed junior season at Columbia.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytexanonline.com/person/kyle-merber|author=Rachel Wenzlaff|title=The Daily Texan Sports Updates|date=October 14, 2012|accessdate=February 16, 2016}}

After graduating from UT in 2013, Merber joined the New Jersey*New York Track Club under coach Frank Gagliano. He is also sponsored by HOKA ONE ONE.{{cite web|url=http://www.flotrack.org/article/20937-kyle-merber-joins-new-jersey-new-york-track-club|author=Christopher Chavez|title=Flotrack: Kyle Merber joins New Jersey New York Track Club|date=June 4, 2013|accessdate=February 16, 2016}} He was a member of the United States' distance medley relay team which set the world record of 9:15.50 at the 2015 IAAF World Relays in Nassau.{{cite web|title=USA "Motley Crew" Caps Distance Relay Sweep With Wild World-Record Victory In Men's DMR |date=4 May 2015 |url=http://www.letsrun.com/news/2015/05/usa-motley-crew-caps-distance-relay-sweep-with-wild-world-record-victory-in-mens-dmr-915-50-in-a-crazy-race/ |accessdate=1 March 2016}}

Merber has been a resident of Clinton, New Jersey.Staff. [http://www.legacy.usatf.org/News/For-Kyle-Merber,-it-s-all-about-running-and-promot.aspx "For Kyle Merber, it’s all about running and promoting the sport he loves"], USA Track & Field, May 16, 2016. Accessed June 30, 2019. "A 25-year-old resident of Clinton, New Jersey, Merber is recognized as a talented runner specializing in the mile and 1500 meters, whose love affair with track and field began years ago."

Merber announced his retirement on instagram on January 4, 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CJop1tBMbeI/ | title=Kyle Merber on Instagram: "Well, I knew I'd have to make this post eventually: I'm not done running, I'm just done getting paid for it. Sometime in the last couple years I realized that I was no longer getting nervous before races. At first I thought it was due to health issues or a lack of fitness. But then I found those things and it was only the fire that was missing. 2020 was a blessing in the sense that it gave me time to fully explore those emotions. I don't like to say I am retiring — Real runners don't retire. I'm merely rearranging priorities. So what's next? I'm in the process of trying to figure that out myself. Thank you @njnytc @flynnsports @hokaoneone @feetures @polarglobal @xendurance for the opportunity to live out this dream." }}

As of 2025, Merber is the director of Athletes and Racing for Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track League.{{cite web|url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-olympics-news-track-and-field-news-olympic-legend-michael-johnsons-thirty-million-dollars-backed-unnamed-track-league-secures-support-from-decorated-american-athlete/|website=Essentially Sports|title= Olympic Legend Michael Johnson's $30 Million-Backed 'Unnamed' Track League Secures Support From Decorated American Athlete|date= May 1, 2024|first=Christaline|last=Meyers|access-date=2 May 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Michael Johnson, Steve Gera, Ahmad Nassar, Robert F. Smith, Eric Winston |url=https://www.grandslamtrack.com/ourteam |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=www.grandslamtrack.com |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://kylemerber.com/ The Official Blog of Kyle Merber]
• [http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/united-states/kyle-merber-246990 IAAF Profile]

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Category:Living people

Category:1990 births

Category:American male middle-distance runners

Category:World Athletics record holders (relay)

Category:People from Bronxville, New York

Category:Sportspeople from Eastchester, New York

Category:Track and field athletes from Westchester County, New York

Category:People from Clinton, New Jersey

Category:Sportspeople from Hunterdon County, New Jersey

Category:Columbia Lions men's track and field athletes

Category:Texas Longhorns men's track and field athletes

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:Track and field athletes from New Jersey

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2015 Pan American Games