By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
Swayde Griffin has just a few more high school track meets with Lago Vista’s track team before he heads to Tucson in June to join the University of Arizona football team.
On Saturday, the son of former NFL cornerback and Texas Longhorn great Cedric Griffin won his third straight Texas Relays’ 110-meter hurdles gold medal, racing to the finish line in 13.46 seconds at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
He’ll look to win a third gold medal on the same track at the UIL state track and field championships next month.
The athletic Griffin was a standout for the Vikings football team for the last three years. While football is his main focus, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound cornerback is a natural on the track. He said his “drive and competitiveness” sets him apart and has led him to have the fastest time in the country in the 110 hurdles.
“Football is my main sport,” he said. “This win means a lot to me. I’ve worked hard all these years and getting another medal means a lot, especially to do it in front of UT fans knowing my dad went to school here.”
Griffin was recruited to Arizona by former defensive coordinator Duane Akina, who previously coached at Texas from 2001-13. Akina returned to the 40 acres earlier this year and was hired by the Longhorns to be the defensive backs coach. In his first stint with the Longhorns, Akina recruited and coached Cedric Griffin.
Georgetown’s Muzzy adds another triple jump gold medal
Georgetown’s Lily Muzzy, last year’s Class 5A gold medalist in the triple jump at the UIL state track and field meet, won the event with a jump of 41 feet, 9¼ inches.
The future SMU Mustang reached that jump on her last attempt and edged out Samantha Ennin of Plano John Paul II, who leaped 40-8¼.
Muzzy will look to repeat as state champion in the triple jump in next month’s state track meet.
LBJ shines in finals of 4×100 and 4×200 relays
LBJ and Lago Vista’s relay rivalry was on full display Saturday.
In the boys’ division I 4×200-meter relay final, LBJ placed second a day after setting a new Texas Relays record in the event. The Jaguars’ relay team of Ali Scott, Karon Lewis, Antione Baker and Josiah Covington ran the final in 1:25.01 and was defeated by El Cerrito, who ran the event in a wind-assisted 1:24.88. The Vikings team of Devin Parsons, Matthew Purkey, Brock Morton and Griffin placed fifth with a time of 1:27.75.
Scott, Karon Lewis, KJ Houston and Ladainian Green lifted LBJ to a fourth-place finish in the boys division I 4×100 relay final. The foursome ran a time of 41.98 in a tight race. Stafford won the event with a time of 41.89.
See more photos from Saturday’s action
In other action on Saturday:
- Vista Ridge’s Emma Wade finished fourth in the girls 3,200 meter run with a time of 10:41.62. The three runners ahead of the senior were from other states or private schools.
- Marianne Zorrilla of Vista Ridge placed fifth in the girls pole vault group B finals. She cleared 11 feet, 7 inches. Marion’s Kaitlyn Rackley won the event, clearing 12-5.
- The Round Rock girls 4×800 relay team of Ivy Parada, Merritt Moore, Lola Cope and Meredith Wolfe finished third in the event with a time of 9:14.40. Salado’s team of Zoie Adcox, Hayden Griesemer, McCall Boyd and Annalee Bryant placed fifth.
- Round Rock’s boys 4×800 relay team of Raffel Giesen Linssen, Andrew Esparza, Leo Brasil and Guerra Zeke finished fourth with a time of 7:56.14.
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