Flying High and Speeding By
You may have a chance to see Anna Cathryn Griffith at the Texas Relays competing in the 4x400m and Pole Vault this week. She keeps herself motivated by telling herself "someone out there is trying to beat me". Admittedly, "This makes me push to get better but I still go through dry spots where it is difficult to stay motivated. " Born and raised in Taylor, Tx she is the younger sister to two older brothers, Clark and Reese. "AC" (the nickname her teammates cheer) committed to jump for Texas Tech September 9, 2018 and officially signed November 11, 2018. Both her brothers attended Texas Tech; Clark, a decathlete.
"AC" is track and field through and through, "I've been competing in the Junior Olympics since I was 7 years old. The first medal I received was actually in the high jump. As soon as I could pole vault in the JO's, I jumped at the opportunity and broke the AAU 13-year-old age group national record. Since then I have not missed a Junior Olympics. This past summer I competed in my last Junior Olympics and went out winning which was amazing."
Anna Cathryn how many records have you broken? "My sophomore year I broke the 4A state record by 1/2 in which made the new state record 13'2'1/2". Then my junior year I moved the state record to 13'3". In my very first high school meet I broke my school record and have been breaking it every chance I get. I hope that as I compete in my last season at Taylor High School, I will break my own state pole vault record and will gain my school record in the 300 hurdles so my dad and I will have the school's 300 hurdles record."
When she's not at the track "AC" may be spending time with her two dogs, working with flowers (she's a florist part time) or babysitting children. "I also love spending time with my family at the beach or in the mountains."
Although she doesn't have a favorite song that she has to listen to before each competition, she is particular about pole vault medals. "I have every one of my pole vault medals in order that I have received them." But as you know she doesn't just pole vault. "I have done lots of different events. The long jump has always been a fun event for me and still enjoy doing it. The 300 hurdles is very challenging but I decided to start running it in middle school because I liked to hurdle and was good at the longer distance. I began pole vaulting when I was 11. My dad introduced me to it because I was a gymnast and thought I would be great at it and that's how he jokingly justified paying the gymnastic bill."
At Texas Tech next fall, she will be majoring in nursing. "I am extremely excited about this because their nursing program is excellent. I hope that I will be able to go to the NCAA National Championship and place at the meet. Also, that I will just become a better vaulter in general."
