David Payne (hurdler) facts for kids
Payne in 2007
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | July 24, 1982 (age 42) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Residence | Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 185 lb | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics (track and field) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 110 m hurdles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | University of Cincinnati Bearcats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 110 m hurdles: 13.02 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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David Thorn Payne, born on July 24, 1982, is an American athlete. He is famous for competing in the 110-meter hurdles race. David was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later moved to the nearby town of Wyoming.
David went to the University of Cincinnati. There, he ran in both the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles. He was a very successful college athlete. He won many awards in the Conference USA league. In 2004, he was named the Conference USA Outdoor Athlete of the Year. He also helped his team, the Bearcats, win the outdoor title that year. David set new school records for both hurdle distances. He was also named an NCAA All-American twice for the 110-meter hurdles. Today, David lives in Northern Kentucky and continues to train in Cincinnati.
Contents
David Payne's Early Successes
In 2007, David Payne started to make a name for himself on the world stage. He won a silver medal at the Pan American Games. This was a big competition for athletes from North and South America. He finished just behind Dayron Robles, a top hurdler from Cuba.
Later that year, David earned a bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships. This event brings together the best athletes from all over the world. His time of 13.02 seconds was his personal best at that point. What made this even more amazing was that David was not originally supposed to race. He was an alternate, meaning he was a backup. He stepped in because another American hurdler, Dominique Arnold, was injured. David arrived in Japan less than 24 hours before his race. Despite the short notice, he performed incredibly well!
Olympic Dream Comes True
In 2008, David Payne secured his spot for the Beijing Olympics. He got the final qualifying spot at the 2008 Outdoor National Championships. This meant he would represent the USA at the biggest sports event in the world.
At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, David continued to shine. He won a silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles. His time was 13.17 seconds, which was his best time for that season. The gold medal was won by Dayron Robles of Cuba, who was the world record holder. This was a huge achievement for David, showing he was one of the best hurdlers in the world.
Winning the National Championship
After a short break from indoor competitions, David Payne returned strong in 2009. He showed he was back in Olympic form during the outdoor season. He won the 2009 USATF National Championship in the 110-meter hurdles. Winning this race meant he qualified for the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany.
The national championship race was incredibly close. It was a "photo finish," meaning the winner had to be decided by looking at a photo taken at the finish line. David Payne just barely beat another top American hurdler, Terrence Trammell. David won by only 0.003 of a second! Even the TV announcers thought Trammell had won because he was leading right after the last hurdle. But David surprised everyone by pushing ahead in the very last steps.
See also
In Spanish: David Payne para niños
