Stephen F. Austin
USA Track and Field Championships
Payne Takes Third at USAs to Make U.S. Team
6/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Complete Results
EUGENE, Ore. -- Stephen F. Austin's Demi Payne accomplished exactly what she set out to do in Eugene at the USA Championships this weekend: qualify for the 2015 World Championships in Beijing as a member of the national team. The 2015 NCAA outdoor champion jumped 15-1 (4.60m) on Sunday afternoon at Historic Hayward Field to finish third out of the top 18 women's pole vaulters in the country.
Payne's second trip to the University of Oregon in a little over two weeks proved to be another monumental one as she became the first Ladyjack to make a national team in program history.
The New Braunfels product went up and over 15-1 on her second attempt to secure the top three finish on Sunday. After taking three attempts at 14-5.25 (4.40m) early in the competition, Payne soared over 14-9 (4.50m) on her first run to move into the top three, where she remained until the end. Olympic gold medalist Jenn Suhr (adidas) won the event with a jump of 15-9.75 (4.82m).
Payne is one of just 16 collegians who qualified this year for the World Championships.
Payne's big day capped a successful week for the `Jacks in Eugene as five athletes competed well in Track Town USA. Freshman My'Lik Kerley qualified for the Pan Am Juniors in Edmonton after taking second in the 400-meter dash on Saturday and freshman Brittany Innis was named an alternate in the junior 3,000m steeplechase after finishing third.
On Thursday evening, Joshua Taylor claimed 21st in the men's 400m hurdles and assistant coach Michael Courtney came in 29th in the senior division of the 400m.
Payne will now gear up for the 2015 World Championships held this year in Beijing from August 22-30 while Kerley will prepare to compete in Edmonton in late July.
Demi Payne's Height Progression
13-11.25 (O), 14-5.25 (XXO), 14-9 (O), 14-11 (XO), 15-1 (XO), 15-3 (XXP), 15-5 (X)
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