March 9, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Three South Carolina student-athletes gave All-America performances on the first day of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday at Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark. Earning awards for the Gamecocks were Thomas Hilliard, IV, Natasha Hastings and Stephanie Smith.
South Carolina’s evening started with Hilliard running the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles. Hilliard established a PR with a time of 7.74 to finish third in his heat and sixth overall. In qualifying for the finals, Hilliard earned the first All-America certificate of his career. Hilliard was able to secure sixth place in the finals with a time of 7.79 to earn three points for the men’s team.
“More than anything, I’m just relieved,” Hilliard said. “It’s a real weight off my back because I’ve been trying to write the script all season and it didn’t go the way I wanted for a period, but coach Frye always says if everything went alright we wouldn’t appreciate the win. I went through some struggles and pulled it all together at the end of the season, and I’m just relieved.
“I have to thank God above everything else. I think I’m finally where I should be, so I’m just going to keep pressing forward. A lot of credit goes to my coaches and my teammates. This isn’t an individual award, it’s a team award because I had a lot of help.”
Smith ran first in the 400m and tied her season-best performance with a 53.33 clocking that placed third in the heat and ninth overall. Although she just missed the finals, Smith did earn her ninth All-America certificate.
Hastings appeared in the second heat and had little competition in winning it. She posted a 51.64 time, the best of her career on a 200-meter track. Overall, Hastings was second in the prelims, as defending champion Kineke Alexander of Iowa ran 51.62 in the final heat. Hastings earned her eighth career All-America award in the process.
Shalonda Solomon’s night started on a sour note when she false started in the 60m dash prelims and was disqualified from the event in which she placed sixth a year ago. Her preliminary 200m run of 23.08 was good for fourth overall, however, a nagging hip injury prevented Solomon from running in the final race for a chance to defend her NCAA title.
The first event on deck for Carolina on Saturday features Hastings in the quarter mile at 6:55 p.m. CT. The Gamecocks’ stay in Fayetteville concludes with the women’s and men’s 4x400m relays at 8:05 and 8:20 p.m.
Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
6. Thomas Hilliard, IV 7.74
Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles (Finals)
6. Thomas Hilliard, IV 7.79
Women’s 60-Meter Dash (Prelims)
DQ. Shalonda Solomon (false start)
Women’s 200-Meter Dash (Prelims)
4. Shalonda Solomon 23.08
Women’s 200-Meter Dash (Finals)
DNS. Shalonda Solomon
Women’s 400-Meter Dash (Prelims)
2. Natasha Hastings 51.64, 9. Stephanie Smith 53.33
