Payne Finishes 19th at World Championships
8/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Final Results
BEIJING, China – Demi Payne’s magical 2015 season came to a close on Sunday evening at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China as Stephen F. Austin’s star pole vaulter came up just short in her bid to qualify for the finals later in the week. Payne placed 19th overall among the best pole vaulters in the world.
Payne cleared her opening height of 14-1.25 (4.30m) on her first attempt inside historic National Stadium before narrowly missing on three tries at 14-7.25 (4.45m). She beat out 10 other women overall on the night with her clearance.
Payne’s first career trip to the World Championships marks the end of one of the best seasons in collegiate track and field history. In 2015 alone, Payne won the NCAA Outdoor Title, broke a collegiate record five times, was crowned a USATF Indoor National Champion, was named a finalist for the Bowerman Trophy, winning the Fan Vote portion of the selection process, and placed fourth at the Pan American Games in Canada – to name just a few of her astounding accomplishments.
A native of New Braunfels, Payne will return to SFA for the 2015-16 academic year as a senior with one season of outdoor eligibility remaining. Qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio will begin early next summer.
-SFA-
