Wayne Woodruff came to Otterbein from Centerburg, Ohio and ultimately left his mark as a stellar two-sport athlete, achieving high standards on the track and football field from 1977-81.

Woodruff was an outstanding 440-yard runner for the Tan and Cardinal, holding the indoor school record at 50.02 seconds and winning the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) indoor title in 1981.

However, his real claim to fame happened in the 400-yard intermediate hurdles, where he sits second on Otterbein’s all-time list and was a two-time All-American, finishing sixth at the NCAA Championships in 1979 before a stellar fourth-place result in 1981.

A three-time OAC individual champion, Wayne captured two conference titles in the intermediates and was a valuable relay runner for the Cardinals, helping the 4x4 group set the school record, win an OAC title and eventually earn All-American honors.

In addition to his success on the track, Woodruff was also a solid football player on the gridiron, competing as part of a class that posted three winning seasons in four years. He saved the best stretch for his senior campaign, earning first team All-OAC honors as a wide receiver in 1980.

Wayne went on to have a successful business career and has been a valuable contributor to the O-Club. He and his wife, Elizabeth, now reside in Pickerington.