March 10, 2007
South Carolina Head Coach Curtis Frye
(On the women winning two national championships): “You can’t finish any better than first and set NCAA records. We gave 100 percent. Everybody made a contribution: the backups, the coaching staff, everyone. We prayed together, stayed together and kept everyone on the same page, and good things happen when you do that. It was a good teaching lesson for our kids.”
(On Natasha Hastings’ performance): “It was a goal early on in the season for her to break the NCAA record. She’s been training to set that up. All you can do is prepare and she ran the perfect race. She’s a kid who’s had to go through injuries and made a commitment to come back early over Christmas to train after taking off just three days. She did everything she could to make that commitment. She’s everything you can ask for and has the talent and has overcome obstacles. That’s what life is, it’s falling down and learning to get back up.”
(On the men’s third-place finish in the 4x400m relay): “I’m not disappointed at all. I’m very pleased with Thomas Hilliard and how he’s been a leader. He walked on for track and was not an All-American or all-state guy in high school. He’s become the captain, graduated early, been a regional qualifier and now is an All-American. The example he gives the other guys makes him the lead Gamecock. When you gave a guy like that, it gives confidence to the other guys. Kids need that and usually it’s the guy with the most ability, but he also has the character and the way he carries himself makes him a great leader. I’m proud of the men for following his example. They all hugged and prayed together before the men’s mile relay, the boys and the girls together. I like our family approach, and I think I’m changing our name from Gamecock track and field team to Gamecock track and field family because that’s what our kids represent.”
South Carolina Junior Natasha Hastings
(On being an NCAA champion): “It’s still kind of hard to believe. It’s been a long struggle, and I just feel blessed. God has really brought me far, and it was all for His glory today.”
(On being the second fastest American in history indoors for the 400m): “Diane Dixon is a New York native like I am, and she’s a great runner and set her record in 1991, so it’s stood for a long time. Sanya Richards is great as well, and now I’m up there with them. I really don’t know how to explain that feeling.”
