By Shirley Shuman
Heidi Payne recently signed a letter of intent to run track and cross country at Concord University. Payne, the daughter of Eric and Lisa Payne, has run track all four years of her high school career and ran one year in middle school. She has run cross country seven years. Discussing the two sports she will run, she explained she enjoys track because of the different events, but the relationship with athletes from other schools is better in cross country.
In track, this is the third year Payne has qualified for the state meet. In her sophomore year, she qualified in two events—the 3200 meter run and the high jump. Last year, she qualified in the high jump. This year she will be competing on the state level in the high jump and the 4X800 relay. In her junior year her best high jump was 4’8″. This year her best is 5’00″.
The athlete explained that she chose Concord for several reasons. “I really like the campus,” she said, “and the people there are very nice. The coaches seem to work together, and I’m sure I can work with them very well so they can help me get better.” She is to report to the university on August 6, one week before classes begin.
At Concord, Payne will study nursing and plans to obtain a master’s degree in order to become a nurse practitioner.
