Posted: March 13, 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 a collegiate record in the women's 400-meters Sunday at the 2007 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. The 2004 World Junior 400m champion, Hastings won the women's 400m in a collegiate record time of 50.80 seconds, breaking Sanya Richard's record of 50.82 set in 2004. A sophomore at the University of South Carolina, Hastings' time is the second fastest ever by an American indoors. 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. Best Marks Week Ending March 11 MEN 60 - 6.56 Travis Padgett (Clemson) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 200 - 20.32 Walter Dix (Florida State) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 World leader 400 - 45.86 Aaron Buzard (Minnesota) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 800 - 1:48.40 Ryan Brown (Washington) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 Mile - 3:59.90 Leonel Manzano (Texas) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 3000 - 7:51.69 Chris Solinsky (Wisconsin) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 5000 - 13:38.61 Chris Solinsky (Wisconsin) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 60H - 7.61 Mike Wray (Pitt) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 HJ - 2.25/7-4.5 Dusty Jonas (Nebraska) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 & Jim Dilling (Minnesota-Mankato) - Boston, MA 3/10 PV - 5.50/18-0.5 Brad Gebauer (McNeese State), Rory Quiller (SUNY-Binghamton) & Tyson Byers (Washington State) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 LJ - 7.97/26-1.75 Tone Belt (Louisville) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 TJ - 16.29/53-5.5 Andre Black (Louisville) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 SP - 20.55/67-5.25 Noah Bryant (USC) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 WT - 25.08/82-3.5 Kibwe Johnson (Ashland) - Boston, MA 3/9 U.S. leader Hept. - 5998 Donovan Kilmartin (Texas) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 U.S. leader WOMEN 60 - 7.19 Courtney Champion (Tennessee) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 200 - 22.92 Courtney Champion (Tennessee) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 400 - 50.80 Natasha Hastings (South Carolina) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 Collegiate Record 800 - 2:03.47 Alysia Johnson (California) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 Mile - 4:41.96 Shannon Rowbury (Duke) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 3000 - 9:02.73 Shannon Rowbury (Duke) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 5000 - 15:37.97 Arianna Lambie (Stanford) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 60H - 7.98 Shantia Moss (Georgia Tech) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 HJ - 1.86/6-1.25 Destinee Hooker (Texas) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 PV - 4.30/14-1.25 Elouise Rudy (Montana State) & Natalie Moser (Florida) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 LJ - 6.48/21-3.25 Brenda Faluade (Miami) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 TJ - 13.91/45-7.75 Erica McLain (Stanford) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 U.S. leader SP - 18.16/59-7 Sarah Stevens (Arizona State) - Fayetteville, AR 3/9 WT - 25.56/83-10.25 Brittany Riley (Southern Illinois) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 World best Pent. - 4393 Jacquelyn Johnson (Arizona State) - Fayetteville, AR 3/10 U.S. leader