Aries Merritt Athlete

Aries Merritt (born July 24, 1985) is an American hurdler who specialises in the 110 meters hurdles, and is the reigning U.S. National Indoor Champion in the 60 meter hurdles. A native of Marietta, Georgia, he attended Joseph Wheeler High School, where he was teammates with Reggie Witherspoon. Merritt had a successful college athletic career: in 2006 he won the NCCA Championships, was undefeated in all hurdles events that year, and he broke Willie Gault's University of Tennessee hurdles record. His victory at the NCCA Championships in 13.21 was the second fastest ever collegiate time in the United States (only Renaldo Nehemiah had run faster). He took the 110 meter hurdles gold at the 2004 World Junior Championships and finished sixth at the 2006 World Athletics Final. He reached the World Athletics Final in 2008, finishing in fourth. In Istanbul, Merritt became world champion on the 60 meters hurdles by beating Liu Xiang and Pascal Martinot-Lagarde in 7.44.