Payson Maydew, sophomore, became the first Emporia State track and field athlete to surpass 7,000 points in a decathlon last Thursday. Maydew’s new record of 7,202 points beats the old record by almost 300 points set by Tom Vietti at the 1995 College Station Relays of 6,913 points.
“It’s just a good feeling, I’m just glad some things are starting to come together, but I still have plently of improvements to make. I’m just happy I can positively impact Emporia State University and our track and field program,” Maydew, an accounting major, said.
Maydew is currently ranked fourth in the nation out of Division II athletes. He is also ranked 15th in the NCAA. Maydew was in second place after day one of the two-day event, and kept the momentum up into the second day, finishing no less than second place, including a time of 4:26 in the 1500 meter, which beat everyone else in the field by 15 seconds.
“I’m so proud of him, in addition to being a good athlete, he is an amazing person and his work ethic is unreal. It was only a matter of time before he broke that record and I think he has his sights set on bigger and better things now, such as winning a national championship,” said Steve Blocker, head coach.
Peyton Weiss, junior, broke the school record in long jump, taking first place with a jump of 20’1,” breaking her previous personal record by almost a foot. Weiss said it felt incredible, giving God the glory and saying she couldn’t have done it on her own.
The only female athlete in the field for the Lady Hornets was Monica Howard, freshman nursing major, who finished ninth overall with 4,309 points. Her best finish on Friday was a second place javelin throw, tossing the spear 37.9 meters.
“It was a very long day. I think we started at 2:30 (p.m.) and didn’t get out of there until 7:30 (p.m.) on the first day,” Howard said. “I was happy with my performance. I had a personal best in two events – the hurdles and the 200 (meter dash) – so I was happy with that.”
“Monica Howard had a great first collegiate heptathlon and Willie Derryberry and Lane White also competed in their first decathlons as well,” Blocker said.
The Hornets travel to Lawrence today through Saturday for the Kansas Relays.