UC's Payne Qualifies for NCAA Championships

Cincinnati senior David Payne (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming) finished second in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Mid-East Regional Track Meet on Saturday, qualifying for next month’s NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Payne finished in a wind-aided 13.42 seconds, just behind Ohio State’s Joel Brown (13.39). This was the first race since March that Payne has not won. He earned all-American status in the event last year. The NCAA Championship meet is June 9-12 in Austin, Texas. Payne also competed in the 400-meter hurdle final, finishing ninth in 52.61 seconds.

After his surprising qualification for the 200-meter finals, Kenny Wade (Toledo,Ohio/Rogers) came through with a seventh-place finish in the final in 20.99 wind-aided seconds. UC also got points in the pole vault, where Chris Wineberg (Springfield, Ohio/Northeastern) placed 8th after clearing 5.01 meters.

The Bearcats totaled 12 points in the meet to finish 17th overall.

Wineberg will most likely join Payne at the NCAA Championships, as he has the 16th-best decathlon score in the nation this year.

NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD MID-EAST REGIONAL
May 29, 2004 • Baton Rouge, La.
CINCINNATI RESULTS
Women’s High Jump: NH - Renee Hein
Men’s 200m: 7th – Kenny Wade (20.99w)
Men’s 110m Hurdles: 2nd – David Payne (13.42w)
Men’s 400m Hurdles: 9th – David Payne (52.61)
Men’s Pole Vault: 8th – Chris Wineberg (5.01m/16’5.25”); 11th – Chad Beamer (4.86m/15’11.25”); NH – Chris Smith
Men’s 4x400m relay: 14th – Cincinnati (3:11.05)

w – wind-aided