Florida State University Athletics
Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1991
A twenty-one time NCAA All-American, Concord, Ontario, native Marita Payne was one of Florida State University's most prolific runners.
Even before her senior year at Florida State she was the fastest runner ever in the Western Hemisphere at the 400 meter, achieving that mark (50.06) at the World Track and Field Championships in Helsinki, Finland, in August 1983. She bettered that mark running 49.91 in 1984 to claim the NCAA championship, her second in that event for Florida State.
Additionally, Payne won national championships as part of relay teams in the 1981 indoor 800 and 1600 meter relays, the 1983 outdoor 400 and 1600 meter relays and the 1984 outdoor 400 meter and one mile relays.
In addition to those accolades, Marita was also an Olympic medal winner. After claiming fourth place in the 400 meter, she won silver medals in the 400 meter and 1600 meter relays in the 1984 summer Olympics.
Her Florida State ties run deep as she is married to former Seminole basketball great Mitchell Wiggins.
