June 23, 2003

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Former Stony Brook University cross country/track and field athlete Jenny Payne was named Verizon Academic All-America by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Payne graduated from Stony Brook in May with a 3.85 GPA in biology. One of the most successful athletes in Stony Brook athletics history, she achieved NCAA All-America status this season and was named the Stony Brook Female Athlete of the Year her final two seasons. She was the 2002 America East Conference Cross Country champion with the sixth-best time in conference history and became Stony Brook's first NCAA qualifier and first cross country Division I All-American. A school record-holder in several events, she also received the 2002-03 Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence and the 2002-03 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship award.