Before there was football, there was track and field.
In recent years, many football players have used track and field to enhance their performance on the gridiron. Some have excelled at it while others have struggled.
Some of the most notable names include Jeff Demps, Jacoby Ford, Willie Gault, Randy Moss, O.J. Simpson, and many others.
Baylor quarterback and Heisman hopeful, Robert Griffin, once excelled in track and field and can definitely add his name to the notable list.
This season, Griffin has passed for 3998 yards and 36 touchdowns, while only throwing six interceptions thus far.
Perhaps it was track that paved the way for Griffin’s (6-foot-2, 220 pound) recent successors in football?
While Griffin’s numbers are impressive nonetheless, his background in track and field is just as impressive and shouldn’t go unnoticed.
In his high school years at Copperas Cove High School, in Copperas,Texas, Griffin competed in the 400-meter dash, and both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles.
As a junior, he set Texas state records in both the 110’s and 300’s with times of 13.55 and 35.33, respectively. Griffin missed the national record at the time by one hundredth of a second in the the 300’s. His time currently stands as the fourth-fastest high school time ever recorded.
After winning the Class 4-A Texas state title in both hurdle races and setting state records, Griffin was named the 2007 Gatorade Texas Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year for his efforts.
Later that summer at the AAU Championships, Griffin, took home gold in the young men’s division (17-18) of the 110’s (13.46) as well as the 400 hurdles (49.56). His 400-meter hurdle time ranked him No.1 in the country among high school athletes, according to DyeStat.com – and currently stands as the second-fastest time in history.
Spring 2008, Griffin enrolled at Baylor University after choosing to graduate a semester early to take up spring practice with the Bears’ football team.
In preparation for football season, Griffin joined the Baylor track team while in spring training.
Under the direction of legendary track and field coach Clyde Hart, Griffin blossomed into one of the top hurdlers on the collegiate level, posting wins at the Big 12 Championships and the Midwest Regional meet in the 400 meter hurdles. His time from the Big 12 meet , 49.22, ranks No. 3 in Baylor history.
At the NCAA Championship that year, he finished third place, earning All-American accolades as a freshman in the process. During the summer, Griffin participated in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, where he finished 11th with a time of 49.38.
After his freshman season, Griffin never returned to the oval.
Note: David brings extensive experience covering track & field and cross country events. He has worked on the national level with both RunnerSpace and MileSplit, Inc. as a freelance videographer and writer. David has also contributed content to ESPNHS DyeStat and PreRaceJitters.com.
Sources used:
DyeStat.com
Flotrack.com
BaylorBears.com
ESPN.com
