Jeff Merkt

2009: Qualified for NCAA East Region meet in the discus throw … indoors, competed in the shot put and weight throw … had a high toss of 47-1 1/4 to finish fourth in the shot put at the Gamecock Invitational … placed 17th in the weight throw at the New Balance Invitational at 55-3 3/4 … hit a personal best 57-0 3/4 to place 13th at the SEC Indoor Championships … outdoors, competed in the discus with five top three finishes … opened the season with second place finishes at the Shamrock Invitational and the Weems Baskin Invite … won the Friendship & Freedom Games with a toss of 168-1 … claimed second overall at the Penn Relays at a personal best 176-8 … finished ninth at the SEC Outdoor Championships at 163-9 … participated in the NCAA East Region meet with a toss of 157-1 to finish 17th.

2008: Indoors, competed in the weight throw with a season best 48-8 ¼ in a 13th place finish at the SEC Championships … took seventh at the Gamecock Invitational … outdoors, competed in the discus with a season best 156-10 to finish 15th at the SEC Championships.

Cincinnati (2006/2007): Competed one year at Cincinnati where he competed his freshman year but was an unattached athlete in 2007 … was named a Topcat Scholar for having a grade point average above 3.0 … outdoor personal bests of 138-8 in discus, 121-7 in hammer throw, 119-1 in javelin and 41-10 1/2 in shot put.

HIGH SCHOOL: Coached by Dan Rosenbaum at Archbishop McNicholas High School … junior year named first team Greater Catholic League all-conference … senior year named first team Greater Catholic League all-conference … Greater Catholic League Athlete of the Year … three-time team MVP award winner … district champion in the discus.

PERSONAL: Jeffrey Michael Merkt was born January 1, 1987 … parents are Steve and Joan Merkt … pursuing a degree in sport and entertainment management … hobbies include boxing, lifting weights, swimming, eating and cooking … chose USC over Akron, UNC-Charlotte, Oklahoma and Miami (Ohio).