HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD

One could call it the icing on the cake to a solid high school athletic career.

Mason County senior Rachel Payne was named to the Class AA KTCCCA Track and Field All-State 2nd Team on Monday as she placed in the top four of Class AA in both the 300-meter hurdles (3rd) and the high jump (4th) at the KHSAA Class AA state meet in Lexington on Friday.

Payne’s career as a Lady Royal on the athletic playing field spans many years and milestones. She was the Lady Royals leading scorer in soccer in each of the past three seasons with 65 goals scored in her high school career. She also excelled on the basketball court, leading the Lady Royals in scoring the past two seasons and amassing 977 points in her hardwood career, a COVID-shortened senior season keeping her from the 1,000-point mark. She was selected to the 10th Region Girls Basketball Coaches Association All-Region second team this past season.

On the track, the 300-meter hurdles was her best event, winning a Class AA, Region 6 title this season and also winning the 100-meter hurdles at the region meet. She also snagged a pair of runner-up finishes at the state indoor meet in March, finishing second in the 60-meter hurdles and the high jump.

She’s expected to be a preferred walk-on at Western Kentucky University, where she’ll continue her track and field and academic career.