Payne Takes Fourth at Pan American Games
7/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Final Results
TORONTO, Ontario – Stephen F. Austin’s Demi Payne represented the United States and SFA well in her first appearance in the red, white and blue, finishing fourth in the women’s pole vault final on Thursday evening at the 2015 Pan American Games. She jumped 14-9 (4.50m) inside CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium, narrowly missing a spot on the medal podium.
Payne, a product of New Braunfels, Texas, got off to a great start in Toronto, notching first attempt clearances at 14-5.25 (4.40m) and 14-9 to move into first position early on. With the latter height securing her place in the final four, Payne just grazed the bar at 15-1 (4.60m) and missed twice more at 15-3 (4.65m) to close her first Pan Am Games. The Ladyjack senior outlasted six of the best women in the Americas overall on the evening before all was said and done.
Yarisley Silva of Cuba won gold with the best jump in the world this year and a new Pan American Games record, Fabiana Murer took silver for Brazil and Jenn Suhr – the only other competitor from the USA – grabbed the bronze with a top jump of 15-1.
Payne will now turn her attention to the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China later this summer. The Bowerman Trophy finalist will first jump on August 23 at 8:30 p.m. CT.
-SFA-
