[Audio] Aries Merritt and David Oliver at Diamond League Press Conference, Paris, (From RBR Archives, Paris DL 2014)

I came upon this interview while doing some research for #Tokyo2025. I was missing Aries Merritt and David Oliver a bit, and this interview is a time capsule into their era and the amazing legacy of the sprint hurdles. Aries Merritt and David Oliver were two of the event’s and the sport’s most popular and respected athletes in their era.

I was fortunate to visit the Paris Diamond League meeting, then called the #ArevaParis, for several years, and the meet pressers were some of my favorites. This is from the RBR Archives from eleven years ago!

Originally posted in August 2014. Management of audio and final production by Brian Eder, co-founder of #RunBlogRun. 

One of the toughest events in athletics is the 110 meter hurdles.

The high hurdles, as some call it, is a combination of sprinting skills and hurdling skills.

As Renaldo Nehemiah (first man under 13 seconds in hurdles, 8 WRS), a man who owned the WR for the 110 meter hurdles for ten years and nearly five months would tell you, ” the 110m hurdles is all about establishing a rhythm.”

Aries Merritt, photo by PhotoRun.net

Two of the wiliest veterans in the 110 meter hurdles are Aries Merritt and David Oliver. We had the opportunity to interview both Aries and David together. 

Aries Merritt is the 2012 Olympic champion and WR holder in the 110m hurdles. David Oliver is the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, 2013 World Championship gold medalist and the former American record holder. 

Listen to the interview when you can. It is interesting. Listen to their laughing and their candor, but also note their observational skills. Note how they respect each other. 

David Oliver, photo by PhotoRun.net

I asked Aries Merritt to describe the best traits of David Oliver in the 110 meter hurdles. Merritt spoke about how strong David is on the last half of the race. I then asked David Oliver the same question regarding Aries Merritt and David noted that Aries’ trail leg is exceptional over the barriers. 

David Oliver also said that, every time he races, he needs to be a world class performer and be ready to race, or he should not go out there. 

It is the nature of elite athletes. And for 110 meter hurdlers, who compete in the most competitive event on the men’s schedule, respect is a big part of the game. 

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America’s first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: “I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself.” Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, ” I’m no Angel.”

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