Olympian Aries Merritt returns to Wheeler this week

Aries Merritt, Wheeler’s Coach Greg Mitchell, and Kevin Young (left to right)

Aries Merritt, Olympic gold medal winner and 110-meter hurdles world record holder, returned to Wheeler High School Friday to inspire students to focus on their studies and set high goals for themselves. A graduate of the class of 2003, Merritt’s hurdling career started at Wheeler when he jumped over a fence by the track.

Students also heard from Kevin Young, an Olympic gold medalist and world record holder of the 400 m hurdles.  Young competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics and broke the world record in 1993.

Merritt’s visit was a great honor for Wheeler students who greeted him enthusiastically with Wildcat pride.