Running back on track

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:12PM

For years, Julius Mercer skimmed over the obstacles in his path. He was a world-class hurdler when Edwin Moses ruled the hurdling world, even competing against the greatest hurdler ever at the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials.

But, by Feb. 25, 1995, the Kansas State and Rich East graduate had long since stumbled and crashed.

On that evening, Mercer, a Park Forest native, was inducted into the KSU Track and Field Hall of Honor. But he wasn't at the ceremony.

Mercer was in a Jacksonville, Ill., prison serving a three-year sentence for violation of probation on a burglary crime.

"When my mom told me I was going to be inducted into the Hall of (Honor), I knew I wouldn't be able to attend," Mercer said. "I couldn't stop crying. I cried like a baby."

The sadness wouldn't end there.

For nearly a quarter of a century, Mercer lived a life of depression, drug addiction, criminal activity and homelessness. His last bit in jail ended in 2007.

There are reasons to think there will not be another.

When Mercer thinks about his 50 years on this planet, he knows there's a reason why he's still alive today.

"I'm alive through the grace of God," Mercer said. "I'm not over-religious, but I am very spiritual."

The spirit has moved him to help others.

"I'm trying to build a career as a motivational speaker," he said.

Friday, Mercer will be signing copies of his book, "A New Fire in You," from 2 to 3 p.m. at AMT Enterprises, 201 W. 144th St.; and from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Riverdale Community Resource Center, 13725 S. Wabash Ave.

"I have a story to tell," Mercer said. "If I can get kids to read my book, I know I can help kids avoid the mistakes that I've made in my life."

Mercer's mistakes landed him in four different Illinois prisons for stretches totaling eight years.

But in 1984, Mercer was seemingly enjoying life at the top of the world.

An All-American off his third-place finish in the 400 intermediate hurdles at the NCAA finals, Mercer also was a Big Eight champion in the 400 and 110 hurdles. He was coached by former Bloom Township track coach Steve Miller, who went on to be an executive at Nike. Invited to the U.S. Olympic Trials, Mercer didn't make the final cut, but he returned to KSU to earn his bachelor's degree in sociology.

"I was a college graduate and I always thought I could figure out my own problems without asking for help," Mercer said. "I was wrong. Instead, I was self-centered and I felt that people owed me."

After working as an assistant track coach at KSU and for Butler Community, the junior college he attended after graduating from Rich East, Mercer's life started to spiral.

"When I got divorced, I was devastated," said Mercer, whose 16-year-old daughter, Jessica, lives with her mom in Kansas. "Not long after, my father died in my arms. Almost immediately, I became mad and angry at the world, God, everybody. I just did not care anymore. I refused to get therapy and counseling. My attitude about these events changed my attitude about life."

Mercer says in his book he "attempted suicide three times and had three stays in a mental hospital."

"I started hanging around people who used and sold drugs," Mercer said. "Now I had two huge sets of problems. I was in a deep depression and I had a drug addiction."

He supported the drug habit by stealing - cars and from homes. Among Mercer's prison stints were two, totaling 35 months, for residential burglary, and a 23-month stretch for receiving, possessing and selling a stolen vehicle.

During his brief periods out of jail, Mercer was homeless on several occasions.

"I would sleep in abandoned buildings on the West Side of Chicago," he said. "It was very scary having people pull guns on me at 2 or 3 in the morning. I would go to shelters to get something to eat. I knew I had fallen all the way to the bottom. It's absolutely amazing that I didn't die."

Mercer claims he's drug free. He's also an author, spending $2,500 of his own money to self-publish his book.

"I'm trying to get sponsors to donate money so that I can print more copies of the book," Mercer said. "I want the kids in Chicago to read my book, so that they can avoid what happened to me. I want our kids to have goals and dreams.

"I want kids to have a good life."

Skimming over the hurdles in their paths.

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