La Grange’s Sprint Champ Austen Diggs to Run for Baylor University

One of the best sprinters in La Grange High School history has made plans for after graduation.

LHS senior Austen Diggs signed a scholarship agreement Wednesday to run for Baylor University.

“We’ve put a lot of work into this, and this is what it’s all about,” Diggs said. “Now I can just focus on running.”

For the past several weeks Diggs has taken recruiting trips to the University of Texas, University of Houston, the University of Texas San Antonio and Baylor.

“I could have gone on more, but after going to Baylor I knew that was where I needed to be. God showed me this was where I needed to be and I have no doubts.”

Diggs is the reigning Class 4A state 200 meter champ and also won a pair of indoor national titles at the Adidas Indoor Track Nationals in the 60 meters and the 200 meters in March at Virginia Beach.

La Grange head track Coach Rusty Cauthern is excited about being able to coach the star sprinter for one more spring before Diggs heads to Baylor.

“I fully expect him to be back at the state track meet,” Cauthern said. “As we have already seen he has the talent to win it all and hopefully we can put a few people with him (on a relay) and get more titles there.”

Diggs was celebrated with a huge crowd of classmates, family and well wishers at Wednesday’s signing ceremony.

“It’s really nice to see a young man who is a great kid get rewarded. He has a tremendous work ethic, set goals and works hard to get there,” Cauthern said.

Austin Diggs is shown here at his signing ceremony, front and center, Wednesday as he officially accepted a scholarship offer to run track at Baylor University. Joining him for the ceremony were several family members pictured here. Back row - Ross Denham, Christa Denham, Cambree Denham, Brandon Diggs, Randy Gardiner; Front Row - Raelee Denham, Ace Denham, Austen Diggs, Jane Diggs, Avery Peevler with Baby Brixton Peevler, Nancy Kollaja. Photo by Jeff Wick