Payne Named USTFCCCA First Team All-American
6/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Complete USTFCCCA All-American List
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the 2015 NCAA Division I All-Americans for outdoor track and field on Monday, and Stephen F. Austin's Demi Payne is a first team selection. It is the highest All-American honor Payne has received in her collegiate career.
Payne won the women's pole vault competition on June 11 at the 2015 NCAA Championships in Eugene, becoming SFA's first Division I champion in any sport. The junior from New Braunfels cleared 15-5 (4.70m) to claim the title and break the NCAA meet record by nearly 10 inches.
The outdoor title capped one of the best seasons in women's pole vault history for Payne. She broke the collegiate record twice during her outdoor campaign and recorded seven of the 10 highest clearances in outdoor collegiate history.
With Payne's 10 points, the Ladyjacks finished the meet in a tie for 20th place -- the highest team finish in program history.
Josh Taylor was named Honorable Mention All-American after finishing 19th in the 400m hurdles last week. It is his third such distinction in his collegiate career. Taylor was a First Team All-American in the quarter hurdles last season and also picked up second team recognition in the 4x400m relay.
The top eight finishers in each event at the Division I Championships in Eugene were classified as First Team All-America while the next eight performers (9-16) were classified as second teamers. All remaining qualifiers were designated as honorable mention.
The four-day meet was broadcast live on the ESPN family of networks. Replays of the entire championships are currently available on ESPN3 and through the WatchESPN app.
Payne and Taylor will now turn their attention to the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, which are held back in Eugene next week.
-SFA-
