Villanova Univeristy Athletics

CAREER COLLEGIATE RESULTS

Competed for Villanova in cross country and the distance events on the track during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years ... Established personal best times in the 3000 meters, the 5000 meters and the 10,000 meters while running for the Wildcats ... Competed at three BIG EAST Championships, including the 2021 cross country conference meet as well as the 2023 indoor (5000 meters) and outdoor (10,000 meters) meets ... While at Villanova was a two-time member of the BIG EAST All-Academic Team and earned a spot on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll all four of his semesters on campus ... Came to the Wildcats after being a three-time All-Northeast Conference cross country runner at Mount St. Mary's as an undergraduate ... On the track was a three-time All-NEC selection and was named the Most Outstanding Performer in the distance events on the track at the 2019 outdoor conference championships … Ranked in the top 10 of the Mount St. Mary’s all-time performance lists in the 5000 meters indoors as well as the 3000 meter steeplechase and the 10000 meters outdoors … Has international experience and competed in the IAAF World U20 Championships in the 10000 meters in Tampere, Finland in 2018 after qualifying for the meet at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships earlier that summer.
 

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PERSONAL BESTS
1500 Meters	4:02.90	Northeast Championships (5.5.2018)
Mile	4:20.45	Akron Invitational (2.8.2020)
3000 Meters	8:19.99	Penn 10-Team Select (1.14.2023)
3000 Meter Steeplechase	9:21.65	Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational (3.16.2019)
5000 Meters	14:25.30	Duke Invitational (4.7.2023)
10000 Meters	29:45.34	Penn Relays (4.27.2023)
4 Miles (XC)	20:01.1	Main Line Invitational (9.17.2021)
8000 Meters (XC)	24:29.1	Princeton Invitational (10.19.2019)
10000 Meters (XC)	31:24.6	NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional (11.15.2019)

 

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CAREER HONORS AND AWARDS
2021 OUTDOOR
All-NEC (Second Team)	5000 Meters
2020 CROSS COUNTRY
All-NEC
2019 CROSS COUNTRY
All-NEC
Northeast Conference Athlete of the Week (10.9, 10.23)
2019 OUTDOOR
Most Outstanding Performer (Distance)	Northeast Championships
All-NEC (First Team)	10000 Meters
All-NEC (Second Team)	3000 Meter Steeplechase
2018 CROSS COUNTRY
All-NEC
Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week (10.17)
2018 OUTDOOR
NEC All-Rookie Team	1500 Meters
NEC All-Rookie Team	5000 Meters
2018 INDOOR
NEC All-Rookie Team	3000 Meters
ACADEMIC HONORS
BIG EAST All-Academic Team	2021-22, 2022-23
Athletic Director's Honor Roll	Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023

 

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CAREER BIG EAST RESULTS
2023 OUTDOOR (VILLANOVA, PA. | VILLANOVA STADIUM)
Date	Event	Time	Place
May 11	10000 Meters	30:16.82	9th
2023 INDOOR (CHICAGO, ILL. | DR. CONRAD WORRILL INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CENTER AT GATELY PARK)
Date	Event	Time	Place
February 24	5000 Meters	14:29.18	16th

 

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NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Qualified for the IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland during the 2018 summer season … Competed in the 10K at IAAF meet after earning his spot at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships in Bloomington, Ind. earlier in the summer.
 

BEFORE VILLANOVA

Smithsburg High School: Competed on the cross country and track & field teams in addition to playing football, baseball, basketball and soccer during his scholastic career … Nine-time Maryland 1A state champion … In 2016 was a Foot Locker finalist and set a cross country state record at the Maryland 1A meet.
 
Personal: Born 4/13/99 in Waynesboro, Pa. … Younger of two children of Michael and Dawn Merritt … Has an older sister, Emily … Enjoys hiking, playing video games, cycling and listening to music in his spare time … Graduated from Mount St. Mary’s and chose to further his education at Villanova because it felt like a place where people cared for the well-being of others … Noted that the combination of strong athletic and academic programs would help him become a well-rounded person … Pursued a degree in Public Administration at Villanova.