"I have to work harder than I did last year because last year I was the underdog and it was OK. But now they're aiming for me. So there's no excuse."
As for being back at Penn, Merritt said: "The crowd is amazing, especially the people that are yelling at you just as you're about to start. The atmosphere is crazy."
Like clockwork
It is as common as rainy days in April.
Folks are used to seeing North Penn compete in the Penn Relays high school boys' 4x800 Championship of America. The Knights will make their ninth consecutive finals appearance today at Franklin Field.
The quartet of Justin Kohl, Dom Camasso, Nick Burkwit and Brian Quintrell posted the ninth-fastest qualifying time of 7 minutes, 54.28 seconds yesterday.
"I'm excited to [make it again], because the Saturday at the Penn Relay is the best track meet outside of the Olympics," Quintrell said. "I'm also relieved, because you don't want any streak to end with you."
The senior, who's headed to East Carolina, will make his third consecutive Championship of America appearance.
Last season, he ran the lead-off leg on the Knights' second-place team. North Penn was the top American finisher.
Surely, Quintrell wants to duplicate that performance?
"We are just trying to run our best," he said. "Whatever that puts us in there, we want to compete. If we are last and we run our outdoor best, we are happy with that."
