Annabelle Griffin, a talented pole vaulter from Live Oak High School, has officially signed a letter of intent to join the track and field team at Northwestern State University. This decision marks a significant step in her athletic career as she prepares to compete at the collegiate level.
The process of choosing a university unfolded rapidly for Griffin. “It really was kind of a fast decision,” she explained. Working closely with her coach, E.J. Guidry, they reached out to various colleges across Louisiana to gauge interest. Surprisingly, it was the coach from Northwestern who initiated contact through social media, expressing admiration for Griffin’s pole vaulting skills. “He DMed me on Instagram and said, ‘hey, I like how you pole vault, so you want to come visit?’ I was like, ‘heck yeah, I wanna go visit,’” she recalled.
Her visit to the campus proved to be a turning point. Griffin described her first impression as “beautiful” and felt an immediate connection with the coach and the team. “It seemed like they could help me improve a lot. I felt like there was promise there and that I would really be able to improve, so I went ahead and said no to everybody else and accepted Northwestern,” she stated.
Griffin boasts an impressive athletic record, with a personal best of 12 feet in pole vaulting. Last season, she finished as the runner-up in the state competition, clearing approximately 10 feet 11.1 inches. Her accolades also include winning both the district and regional championships. This year, she placed fourth at the indoor state championships, surpassing a height of 10 feet 11.75 inches. In addition, Griffin holds the school records for both indoor and outdoor pole vaulting, as well as the 60-meter hurdles.
Beyond her pole vaulting prowess, Griffin competes in multiple events, including the 60 hurdles for indoor track, the 100 hurdles, and occasionally the 4×100 relay. Coach Guidry expressed confidence in her potential at the collegiate level, noting, “It’s going to be exciting to see her bring the hard work that she brings from Live Oak to Northwestern.”
Academically, Griffin maintains a remarkable 4.2 grade point average and plans to major in microbiology. Her interest in this field is deeply personal; as a cancer survivor, she aspires to contribute to cancer research. Her dedication to both athletics and academics reflects her determination to make a meaningful impact in her future endeavors.
As Griffin embarks on this new chapter at Northwestern State University, her journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and students alike, demonstrating that hard work and resilience can lead to significant opportunities.
