Stephen F. Austin
USA Track and Field Championships
Payne Wins USA Track and Field Pole Vault Title
3/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
BOSTON, Mass. - Stephen F. Austin's Demi Payne has been named a national athlete of the week three times, broken five meet records, won six individual titles and broken the NCAA women's pole vault record three times so far in 2015. She can now add U.S. champion to her impressive resume.
In a field of the best women's pole vaulters in the country, Payne claimed gold at the 2015 USA Track and Field Indoor Championships held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston, Massachusetts on Sunday afternoon. She cleared 14-11 (4.55m) on her third attempt to edge defending champion Mary Saxer by two inches.
Payne, who was scheduled to enter into Sunday's competition at 14-1.25 (4.30m), started to make her presence felt at the high 14-foot range. She surpassed 14-7.25 (4.45m) on her first attempt before using two runs to notch a height of 14-9 (4.50m).
While the other vaulters remaining in action, including Saxer and world record holder Jenn Suhr, passed on 14-11, Payne took center stage. Narrowly missing on her first two attempts, the Ladyjack senior powered over the bar on her final of three allotted attempts.
Payne made three good jumps at 15-1 (4.60m) but couldn't raise the bar any higher on the day. With Suhr bowing out of the competition with one attempt left and Saxer missing at the 15-1 height as well, Payne secured the title in her USATF Championship debut.
Payne will next be in action at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 13-14 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
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