Posted: April 4, 2007

Athletics: Hastings named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS -Natasha Hastings has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after setting three records at this past weekend's Weems Baskin Sprint Relays in Columbia, S.C. The 2004 World Junior 400m champion, Hastings won the 400 meters in the world leading time this outdoor season of 50.55 seconds. Her performance shattered former NCAA champion and 2000 Olympian Miki Barber's school and track record of 50.63 seconds, set in winning the 2001 SEC title. A junior at the University of South Carolina, Hastings also contributed to two other track records on the weekend. She joined Ronnetta Alexander, Chiquita Martin and Brandi Cross in winning the 4x100m relay in 43.25 seconds, which bettered the previous track record of 43.48 set by USC in winning the 2001 SEC 4x100m relay title. Hastings also joined with Cross, Martin and Krystal Cantey in winning the 4x400m relay in a new track record time of 3 minutes 30.98 seconds, which improved upon USC's winning performance at the 2001 SEC Championships All three performances in the 400m, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay rank as the best in the nation on the collegiate list, and are world leaders thus far this outdoor season. Now in its sixth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 2007 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 2, Thomas Morgan; January 9, Jacquelyn Coward; January 16, Ryan Hall; January 23, Johnny Dutch; January 30, Shalane Flanagan; February 6, Gail Devers; February 13, Alan Culpepper; February 20, Bernard Lagat; February 27, Christian Cantwell; March 6, Fasil Bizuneh; March 13, Natasha Hastings; March 20, Anthony Famiglietti; March 27, Nadine O'Connor; April 4, Natasha Hastings. Best Marks Week Ending April 1 MEN 100 - 10.13 Darvis Patton (Unat.) - Arlington, TX 3/31 200 - 20.43 Evander Wells (Tennessee) - Atlanta, GA 3/31 & Greg Nixon (Unat.) - Tucson, AZ 3/31 400 - 45.75 Angelo Taylor (Unat.) - Atlanta, GA 3/31 800 - 1:47.98 Duane Solomon (USC) - Stanford, CA 3/31 1500 - 3:44.76 David Olson (Weber State) - Stanford, CA 3/31 Mile - 3:57.46 Josh McDougal (Liberty) - Lynchburg, VA 3/31 3000SC - 8:30.39 Josh McAdams (New Balance) - Stanford, CA 3/30 5000 - 13:45.31 Rod Koborsi (Reebok) - Stanford, CA 3/31 10,000 - 28:07.93 Ryan Hall (Asics) - Stanford, CA 3/30 110H - 13.32 Aries Merritt (Reebok) - Atlanta, GA 3/31 400H - 49.59 LaRon Bennett (Doyle Mgmt.) - Atlanta, GA 3/31 HJ - 2.21/7-3 Jerome Miller (Georgia Tech) - Atlanta, GA 3/31 PV - 5.36/17-7 Spencer McCorkel (Arkansas HS) - Black Springs, AR 3/31 LJ - 7.62/25-0 Kevin Dilworth (Unat.) - Arlington, TX 3/31 TJ - 16.32/53-6.5 Rafeeq Curry (Unat.) - Tallahassee, FL 3/31 SP - 19.83/65-0.75 Noah Bryant (USC) - Stanford, CA 3/31 DT - 60.29/197-10 Greg Garza (UCLA) - Fresno, CA 3/31 HT - 69.70/228-8 Nick Owens (North Carolina) - Chapel Hill, NC 3/31 JT - 73.30/240-6 Justin Ryncavage (North Carolina) - Chapel Hill, NC 3/31 Dec - 7,946 Jake Arnold (Arizona) - Baton Rouge, LA 3/30 World leader WOMEN 100 - 11.39 Carmelita Jeter (South Bay TC) - Stanford, CA 3/30 200 - 23.11 Brooklynn Morris (LSU) - Baton Rouge, LA 3/31 400 - 50.55 Natasha Hastings (South Carolina) - Columbia, SC 3/31 World leader 800 - 2:06.00 Tiffany McWilliams (adidas) - Starkville, MS 3/31 1500 - 4:11.58 Kara Goucher (Nike) - Stanford, CA 3/31 3000SC - 9:47.68 Kelly Strong (Asics) - Stanford, CA 3/30 5000 - 15:47.48 Michelle Sikes (Wake Forest) - Stanford, CA 3/31 10,000 - 32:31.90 Blake Russell (Reebok) - Stanford, CA 3/30 World leader 100H - 12.91 Candice Davis (USC) - Stanford, CA 3/31 400H - 57.65 Melinda Sallins (Unat.) - Tucson, AZ 3/31 HJ - 1.85/6-0.75 Kaylene Wagner (Kansas State) - Houston, TX 3/31 PV - 4.08/13-4.5 Elouise Rudy (Montana State) - Missoula, MT 3/31 LJ - 6.47/21-2.75 Kiamesha Otey (Unat.) - Starkville, MS 3/31 TJ - 13.54/44-5.25 Brandy Depland (Unat.) - Atlanta, GA 3/31 SP - 18.92/62-1 Jillian Camarena (Unat.) - Stanford, CA 3/31 World leader DT - 63.60/208-8 Suzy Powell (Asics) - Stanford, CA 3/31 HT - 67.96/222-11 Brittany Riley (Southern Illinois) - Columbia, MO 3/30 JT - 51.53/169-1 Mallory Webb (Fresno State) - Fresno, CA 3/31 Hept - 5,621 Liz Roehrig (Minnesota) - Arlington, TX 3/30