Payne Named Bowerman Trophy Finalist
7/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
USTFCCCA Release
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Stephen F. Austin junior pole vaulter Demi Payne has been named one of three finalists for The Bowerman Trophy, as announced by the United State Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Thursday afternoon.
The Bowerman, which debuted in 2009, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female collegiate track and field athletes in the nation and is considered collegiate track and field’s most prestigious individual award. Payne’s selection as a top three finalist marks the first such achievement for SFA and the Southland Conference.
“Being named a finalist for the Bowerman Trophy is a huge honor for Demi, her family, her coaches, the SFA track and field program and this university as a whole,” said SFA head track and field coach Phil Olson. “Just to be nominated is a great thing. For her to be named to an elite list with Jenna Prandini (Oregon) and Kendra Harrison (Kentucky) is a great accomplishment alone. Those two women she’s joining have exceptional character and athletic ability, and their performances have been through the roof this year.
“We are extremely pleased for Demi and her family for all that she has accomplished this year through tremendous hard work and dedication. She’s handled everything thrown at her in just a wonderful way and we couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Voting to determine both the men’s trophy and women’s trophy will commence July 27 and conclude August 11. Fan voting will take place simultaneously on TheBowerman.org. The results will collectively count as one ballot alongside those cast by media members, statisticians, USTFCCCA member coaches and other experts from around the nation.
The winner will be announced on Thursday, December 17 at the annual USTFCCCA Convention in San Antonio.
Finalists were chosen by The Bowerman Advisory Board, a ten-person panel of track & field experts from around the country, based on performances recorded during the 2014 indoor and outdoor track & field seasons. Only performances through the conclusion of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships were considered.
Payne’s inclusion on the prestigious list comes on the heels of one of the best years in collegiate pole vault history. The New Braunfels native won the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Pole Vault Title while breaking the NCAA Championship meet record by nearly 10 inches in June. She won the USATF Indoor crown in March and placed in the top three at the USA Outdoor Championships to qualify for the 2015 World Championships in Beijing later this summer.
Payne began the year with a bang, breaking the collegiate indoor record not once, but three times in the month of January alone. Her top jump of 15-7 (4.75m) is the fifth highest in the world this year. She carried her momentum into the outdoor season, finishing as the top collegiate performer in eight straight meets to conclude the year as an NCAA champion. She currently holds five of the top seven indoor marks and seven of the top 11 outdoor marks in collegiate history.
Oregon’s Laura Roesler and Texas A&M’s Deon Lendore are the reigning winners of The Bowerman, which is named for legendary Oregon track & field and cross country coach Bill Bowerman.
Past winners include Olympic gold medalist, World Champion and decathlon world-record holder Ashton Eaton (2010), 10,000-meter Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp (2009), 2011 IAAF World Champion at 1500 meters Jenny Simpson (2009), 2013 100-meter hurdles World Champion Brianna Rollins (2013) and 2012 Olympic high jump bronze medalist Derek Drouin (2013).
In total, the winners from the award’s first five years have won three Olympic Medals, two World Championships and six World Championships medals. When considering finalists for the award, 13 individuals have earned a combined seven Olympic medals, four World Championships and 17 World Championships medals.
Bowerman served the sport of track and field in numerous ways. His leadership in the USTFCCCA’s predecessor organization, the National Collegiate Track Coaches Association, and his contributions to NCAA track and field and the running community as a whole are among his many lasting legacies.
For more information on The Bowerman, the award, the trophy and Bill Bowerman himself, visit TheBowerman.org.
Before competing for the USA at the World Championships in August, Payne will travel to Canada for the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. She will first jump on July 23 at 4:30 p.m. CT.
2015 Bowerman Trophy Finalists
Kendra Harrison (Kentucky) - Hurdles
Demi Payne (SFA) - Pole Vault
Jenna Prandini (Oregon) - Sprints, Long Jump
-SFA-
