|
Quick Facts
Represents: USA
Age:
24 (July 24, 1985)
College: University of Tennessee
Hometown: Marietta, GA
Residence: College Station, Texas
Affiliation: Reebok
Coach: Vince Anderson
Personal Bests:
60m hurdles 7.51 (2006)
110m hurdles 13.09 (2007) |
|
Career Highlights
- 2006 NCAA Champion, 110m hurdles
- 2004 IAAF World Junior Champion, 110m hurdles
- 4th, 2008 Olympic Trials, 110m hurdles
- Ranked #6 in World in 2006
- NCAA Championship record (13.21)
- 2006 NCAA Indoor Champion, 60m hurdles
- NCAA Indoor Championship record (7.51)
- Undefeated in 2005-2006 season (18 wins)
- 3-time SEC Champion
- 7-time All-American
|
Background
 As a freshman on his high school track team, Aries Merritt was nothing special on the flat. Then one day someone dared him to jump a fence. Luckily, his coach was watching. “You’re going to be the hurdler,” he said, and so it was. A background in gymnastics helped make for a quick learning curve, and in his senior year he went undefeated at the 110m hurdles on his way to a 5A Georgia state title before heading to Tennessee.
Among his many college highlights: at the 2006 SEC championships, where he ran 13.22, he broke the legendary Willie Gault’s 24-year-old school record of 13.26; and two-time Olympic medalist Terrence Trammell’s meet record of 13.29. A rising star on the world stage, his personal best of 13.12 was set in his third professional race, in which Liu Xiang shattered the World Record, and he earned his first pro victory soon after, at the prestigious DN Galan meet in Stockholm on July 25.
DN Galan seems to be a lucky meet for Aries: he returned in 2007 to successfully defend his title, and in doing so, set a stadium record (and a new personal best) of 13.09, which earned him a $10,000 diamond from the meeting organizer. |
