Look for 2005 update soon
Updated December 27, 2004
* Five-Time Academic All-Big 12
Career Best:
3000m Run (I) ... 8:19.74
February 2003
2004:
Cross Country: Placed 64th at the Big 12 Championships, 72nd at the NCAA Midwest Regional ... earned a new personal-best time in the 8k at the Notre Dame Invitational with a time of 25:12, scoring as the fourth Tiger.
Outdoor: Won an event championship in the 3000m at Indiana's Billy Hayes Classic (8:24.01) ... placed 22nd at the Big 12 Championships in the 5k ... season bests: 1500m, 3:57.22, Nebraska Quad; 800m, 1:57.70, Nebraska Quad; 5000m, 14:50.72, Botts Invite.
Indoor: Placed 20th at the Big 12 Championship's 3000-meter run with season-best time of 8:28.71.
2003:
Cross Country: Tied a personal best and finished first on the team at the Bradley Open (8k, 25:39.46) ... was Mizzou's fifth scorer at the Big 12 Championships.
Outdoor: Had three top five finishes in the 1500-meter run ... also ran in several distance relays.
Indoor: Raced in the mile and 3000m runs ... finished second at the Missouri Invitational in the mile run ... season bests: Mile, 4:11.68, adidas; 3000m, 8:19.74, ISU Classic
2002:
Cross Country: Finished second among the team at the Big 12 Championships, 54th overall ... finished 81st at the NCAA Regionals ... finished second on team at Iona Invitational.
Outdoor: Competed in the 5000m at the Big 12 Championships ... best time in the 1500m was 3:54.23 at the Iowa Musco Twilight Invitational.
Indoor: Competed in the mile at the Big 12 Conference Meet (4:14.69).
2001:
At Notre Dame: Ran the 3000m in 8:35 ... also ran on the cross country team his freshman year.
Personal:
Son of Susanne Mertens ... majoring in physics (m.s.) ... received a dual undergraduate degrees in both physics and mathematics ... currently working on physics master's degree ... has raced the 3000-meter run now slower than 8:29 over span of his career ... born March 1, 1982 in Fox Hills, Ill.
