March 6, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Junior Natasha Hastings from the University of South Carolina was named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s Southeast Region Female Athlete of the Year for the indoor season Tuesday. The Gamecocks have claimed the regional award the past two years, as Shalonda Solomon took the honor a year ago.

Hastings currently leads the NCAA in the 400-meter dash, with her best time of 51.38 coming when she won the SEC title. The Rosedale, N.Y., native also runs the anchor leg of Carolina’s No. 2-ranked 4x400m relay team that has a top time of 3:30.03.

A seven-time All-American, Hastings has yet to be challenged in a race this year. After opening the season with a 52.85 run and following with a 53.22, her times have improved every race. It began when she ran 52.12 in the prelims of the New Balance Collegiate Invitational and then won the event with a 51.70 run. At the SEC Indoor Championships, her 51.62 run in the prelims was the precursor for her school-record time that won the event.

Hastings has received other honors this year, such as SEC Runner of the Week, and she was named Most Outstanding Competitor at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational.

Hastings and her teammates will compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships over March 9-10 at Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark.