Waymond F. Griggs  (2010)

Camden HS ’54 and Abilene Christian University ’59
​
  • Attended Camden (AR) HS where he qualified for the state meet three of his high school years.
  • State champion in the 100-yard dash as a sophomore and was second in the state 100 in his junior and senior years. Held the school record in the 100 dash.
  • Four-year letterman in track and field for the Abilene Christian University Wildcats.
  • Member of the relay teams that set three world records and won 16 titles at major collegiate relay meets such as the Texas, Drake and Penn Relays.
  • With Griggs sharing baton duties, the Wildcats posted a remarkable record of 36-4 in the 440-yard and 880-yard relay events during his collegiate career.
  • His individual collegiate best times were 10.4 in the 100 meters, 9.6 for 100 yards and 20.8 for 220 yards.

Former Abilene Christian coach Oliver Jackson, a member of the USATF Coaches Association Hall of Fame, usually assigned Griggs to open each relay event because of his quick starting ability with anchor duties going to Bobby Morrow, triple gold medal winner in the 1956 Olympic Games.

Jackson said the 5-10, 146 pound Griggs was one of the most consistent and fastest-starting runners he ever coached. Member of the Wildcat teams that won the 1955 NAIA Division I national championship and 1956 Gulf Coast Conference title, later was a successful high school track and field coach at Midland, TX, Kermit, TX, and Permian High School in Odessa, TX.

His Permian teams at Odessa (Class 5A) have been district champions 14 years and runner-up another seven years. They were regional runner-up three years, regional winners four years and a state runner-up in 1984 and state champions in 1993.

Waymond served for eight years as the men’s West Texas selection chairman for the Great Southwest Classic Track and Field Meet, Phoenix, AZ, and also served on the Advisory Board for the Texas High School Coaches Association. He has written for publication on his success as a sprint coach and has been sought out as a clinic speaker in several states.

World records:
  • 06 Apr 57 440-yard relay Texas Relays Austin 40.2 (JR)
  • 11 May 57 440-yard relay West Coast Relays Fresno 39.9 (JR)
  • 31 May 58 440-yard relay California Relays Modesto 39.7

(SR) Major relay titles:
  • 1955 Texas Relays 440-yard relay 41.4 (FR)
  • 1956 Texas Relays 440-yard relay 41.5 (SO)
  • 1956 Drake Relays 440-yard relay 40.2 (SO)
  • 1956 Drake Relays 880-yard relay 1:28.4 (SO)
  • 1956 California Relays 440-yard relay 40.2 (SO)
  • 1957 Texas Relays 440-yard relay 40.2 (JR)
  • 1957 Drake Relays 440-yard relay 40.5 (JR)
  • 1957 Drake Relays 880-yard relay 1:24.2 (JR)
  • 1957 West Coast Relays 440-yard relay 39.9 (JR)
  • 1957 West Coast Relays 880-yard relay 1:24.4 (SR)
  • 1958 Texas Relays 440-yard relay 41.0 (SR)
  • 1958 Texas Relays 880-yard relay 1:24.3 (SR)
  • 1958 Penn Relays 440-yard relay 41.3 (SR)
  • 1958 Penn Relays 880-yard relay 1:24.9 (SR)
  • 1958 California Relays 440-yard relay 39.7 (SR)
  • 1958 California Relays 440-yard relay 40.5 (SR)

Major team titles:
  • 1955 NAIA Division I national track and field champions (FR)
  • 1956 Gulf Coast Conference track and field championship (SO)