June 22, 2013

DES MOINES, Iowa – Natasha Hastings clinched her first-ever USA Outdoor Championship in the 400-meter dash at the 2013 USATF Senior Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium.

The former Gamecock clocked in at 49.94, just under her lifetime-best of 49.84, for the championship and a trip to Moscow for the 14th IAAF World Outdoor Championships.

The 2007 World Junior Champion and NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Champion in the event has been a mainstay in the Team USA relay pool, earning six international medals. Hastings boasts a gold medal for the 4×400-meter relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Hastings will join South Carolina head coach Curtis Frye and assistant head coach Delethea Quarles who have been appointed Team USA assistant coaches for the IAAF World Championships.

Tomorrow, two more Gamecocks have the chance to join the trio in Moscow.

2012 Olympic silver medalist Jason Richardson advanced to the 110-meter hurdle semifinals with a time of 13.31, the fifth-fastest qualifying time of the day. Richardson will run in the semis tomorrow at 3:40 p.m. ET for a chance to run in the finals at 5:52 p.m. ET.

Shalonda Solomon moved on to the 200-meter dash semis with a time of 22.57. The Gamecock advances to tomorrow’s semifinal at 3:22 p.m. ET with the finals set for later in the day at 5:20 p.m. ET.

Johnny Dutch narrowly missed the men’s 400-meter hurdle top-three, finishing in fourth in the event finals at 48.21.

The 14th IAAF World Championships are set for Aug. 10-18, 2013.