Track & Field

PaytonPhillips

  • position Pole Vault
  • class Senior
  • Hometown Carrollton, Ga.
  • High school Carrollton High School
  • Major Health Promotion

https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/7987493/Kentucky/Payton_Phillips 

Personal Bests:

Indoor:

PV – 14’0″/4.27m

Outdoor:

PV – 14-1.25/4.30m

In The Record Book:

  • Ranks 3rd all-time in the indoor pole vault with a distance of 14’0″/4.27m set in 2024
  • Ranks 2nd all-time in the outdoor pole vault with a distance of 14-1.25/4.30m set in 2024

Career Accolades:

  • 2024 All-SEC Second Team
  • 2024 Outdoor SEC Pole Vault Silver Medalist

Academic Accolades 

  • SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll – 2024

2023-24 (Junior)

Outdoor

  • Won with a personal best vault of 13-9.25/4.20m at the USF Alumni Invitational
  • Placed 2nd with a personal best vault of 13-11.25/4.25m at the Battle on the Bayou
  • Placed 5th with a vault of 13’9″/4.19m at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational
  • Placed 6th with a vault of 13’8.25″/4.17m at the Drake Relays
  • Placed 2nd with a vault of 13’11.25″/4.25m at the SEC Outdoor Championships
  • Advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships after clearing a personal best 14-1.25/4.30m at the NCAA East First Rounds
  • Tied for 8th with a vault of 14’1.25″/4.30m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships

Indoor

  • Placed 2nd with a personal best vault of 13’7.25″/4.15m at the Indiana Early Bird meet
  • Won the pole vault competition with a personal best vault of 14’0″/4.27m at the Rod McCravy Memorial meet
  • Placed 9th with a vault of 13’7.25″/4.15m at the Corky Classic
  • Placed 3rd with a vault of 13’11.25″ at the Tiger Paw Invitational
  • Placed 6th with a vault of 13’6.25″/4.12m at the SEC Indoor Championships

2022-23 (Sophomore)

Outdoor

  • Won with a personal best vault of 13’3.50”/4.05m at the UCF Black & Gold Invite that sits tied for third on the UK all-time performers list
  • Won with a personal best vault of 13’3.75″/4.06m at the Tom Jones Memorial that is third on the UK all-time performers list
  • Placed 3rd with a vault of 13’2.25″/4.02m at the Michael Johnson Invitational
  • Won with a personal best vault of 13’5.75″/4.11 meters at the Jim Green Invitational to improve her third place mark on the UK all-time performers list
  • Placed 13th with a vault of 12’05.50″/3.80m at the SEC Outdoor Championships

Indoor

  • Placed 2nd and set a career best 13’3.5″/4.05m in the pole vault at the Commonwealth College Opener.
  • Placed 2nd with a vault of 12’8.25″/3.87m at the Rod McCravy Memorial.
  • Placed 8th and scored with a vault of 12’11.75″/3.96m at the SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships.

2021-22 (Freshman) 

Outdoor 

  • Competed in five outdoor meets, including SEC Championships 
  • Best vault came at the Kentucky Invitational (12’10.75”/3.93m) 

Indoor 

  • Competed in pole vault at six meets, including SEC Championships and a third-place finish at the Jim Green Invite 
  • Earned personal best at the Tiger Paw Invitational (13’3”/4.04m), becoming the third best pole vaulter all-time for UK indoors 

High School 

  • National champion in the pole vault 
  • Two-time national runner-up in the pole vault 
  • Three-time All-American 
  • Two-time All-Metro Team 
  • Georgia field athlete of the year – 2019 
  • 5A and 6A Georgia state meet record-holder 
  • Four-time state champion in the pole vault 
  • 2021 Addidas All-American 
  • Cleared second-best height in Georgia high school pole vault history 

Personal 

  • Birthday: March 15 
  • Parent: Carey and Kristy Phillips 
  • Siblings: Madison Phillips 
  • Major: Exercise science 
  • Hobbies: Kayaking, hiking, cooking 
  • Favorite sports teams: Atlanta Braves, Hawks and Falcons 
  • Favorite athlete: Katie Nageotte 
  • Fun fact: Listens to every genre of music 
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