Brandon Payne
Ht.: 5-8 Wt.: 145
Hometown: Henryetta, Okla.
Previous School: Henryetta HS
Eligibility: Jr. Major: Accounting
About: Payne returns for his junior campaign with the Hillcats following a sophomore season in which he ran a personal best of 15:30 in the 5k, 26:52 in the 8k and 4:06 1500 meter race. At the conference meet he led the Hillcats with a 27:01.90 time in the 8k event, placing 25th. In the classroom Payne was named to the President’s Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA. He finished second on the team in every race and first in one race as a freshman. Brandon set his personal record at the regionals meet with an 8k time of 26:52. Payne came to RSU from Henryetta High, where he is the record holder for the 800m (2:01), 1600m (4:38), 3200m (10:23), the 3200m relay, and the 5k (17:11). In 2010, he finished 2nd in the 3200m and 3rd in the 1600m at the state championships. He was an All-State cross country selection in 2009. In 2007, Payne was part of an academic state championship in cross country. His favorite runner is Steve Prefontaine. Payne graduated as the Valedictorian of Henryetta High.
