| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born | (1991-09-30)September 30, 1991 (age 34) |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)[1] |
| Weight | 143 lb (65 kg)[1] |
| Parent |
|
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Track and field |
Event | Pole vault |
| College team | Stephen F. Austin State University University of Kansas |
| Turned pro | 2016 |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personalbest | 4.90 m (16 ft3⁄4 in) (i) |
Demi Payne (born September 30, 1991) is a former Americanpole vaulter.[2]
She grew up with a pole vault pit in the back yard, but didn't start vaulting until her sophomore year of high school. Payne first attended theUniversity of Kansas for two and a half years where she was a mid-13-foot vaulter, but never made it to 14. "I went out on the weekends and I pole vaulted during the week and it really wasn't No. 1 for me." She said she got more focused while training after she learned she was pregnant. She gave birth to daughter Charlee on October 22, 2013. After transferring to Stephen F. Austin, to be closer to her family, she began marked improvement. She set theindoor andoutdoor NCAA records at the time, though both the outdoor pole vault record was surpassed bySandi Morris.[3]
Payne competed collegiately forStephen F. Austin State University.
Demi Payne won gold medal on March 1, 20152015 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Pole Vault with a height of 4.55 m (14 ft 11 in).[4] She won a bronze medal June 28,2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Pole Vault with a height of 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in)[5] She competed in thepole vault event at the2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China placing 19th in the qualification round.
Payne recorded a series of personal bests during 2015 and 2016. She set a new personal best inAlbuquerque at 4.75 m (15 ft 7 in) in January 2015, followed in February 2016 at a meet also in Albuquerque at 4.88 m (16 ft 0 in).[6] At the time she moved up theall-time list to tie former world record holderSvetlana Feofanova for the fourth best female pole vaulter in history. The following week Payne improved again at 2016Millrose Games with a career best of 4.90 m (16 ft3⁄4 in) and winning the silver medal.[7]
On March 12, 2016, Payne participated in the2016 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships initially placing third with a height of 4.85 m (15 ft10+3⁄4 in),[8] however she tested positive fordrostanolone at the event and was provisionally suspended under anti-doping rules with her result disqualified. Her suspension was lifted in July 2016 to allow her to participate in theUS Olympic trials where she did not progress beyond the preliminary round.[9] In August 2018 theUnited States Anti-Doping Agency announced that Payne had been served with a four-year ban for the anti-doping rule violation, backdated to March 31, 2016, and forfeited every result from March 12, 2016.[10]
She is the daughter of American pole vaulterBill Payne.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field) | Eugene, Oregon | 16th | 4.25 m (13 ft 11 in) |
| USA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Portland, Oregon | DQ | Doping | |
| 2015 | USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 3rd | 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in) |
| USA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Boston, Massachusetts | 1st | 4.55 m (14 ft 11 in) |
| School Year | Indoor Conference | Indoor NCAA | Outdoor Conference | Outdoor NCAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas '10-'11 | 3.92 m (12 ft 10 in) 8th | DNQ | 3.98 m (13 ft 1 in) 8th | 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in) 22nd in West Prelims |
| Kansas '11-'12 | 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) 2nd | DNQ | 4.13 m (13 ft 7 in) 3rd | 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) 13th |
| Kansas '12-'13 | 3.88 m (12 ft 9 in) 4th | NH | - | - |
| Stephen F. Austin '14-'15 | 4.28 m (14 ft 1 in) 1st | NH | 4.71 m (15 ft 5 in) 1st | 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) 1st |
| Stephen F. Austin '15-'16 |
