June 9, 2007

Collecting both the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles in the 400m, South Carolina’s Natasha Hastings showed everyone why she is one of the top young 400m runners in the world when she ran the world leader to take the NCAA title during the last day of the NCAA Track and Field Championships. Later Hastings ran the anchor leg of South Carolina’s 4x400m relay that finished as the runner-up.

South Carolina’s women finished 12th with 22 points with Arizona State winning the title. South Carolina’s men finished 34th with nine points with Florida State winning its second straight title. It is the first time in 12 years South Carolina has finished out of the top 10, missing it by one point. The Gamecocks collected 12 All-American honors.

“We were one point out of the top 10 on the women’s side – something we were shooting for for the 12th straight year so we are disappointed, but very proud of everyone who competed here. We had a great year and just ran out of gas in the last event (the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays). From Penn Relays to Sacramento – it’s been a wonderful experience and championship season,” said Gamecock head coach Curtis Frye. “Thomas Hilliard turned into a superstar at this meet and our women competed as hard they could – we just didn’t have the numbers. Natasha arrived as the superstar of the meet as well – something we have expected. She struggled here her freshman and sophomore years and really put it together this year. Eleven straight years in the top 10 was a really great ride and I don’t like being 12th. It’s a strange place for this Carolina program and we will be back. We have high standards – a lot of people are happy with 12th place – we know this meet well and we will be back.”

Hastings ran a world leader at 50.15 – just .05 off the collegiate record. Hastings finishes the season as an 11-time All-American. The 2007 NCAA Indoor Champions, Hastings’ defeated two other former NCAA champions in Alexander (Iowa, Indoors 2006) and Williams (Texas A&M, Outdoors 2006).

The women’s 4x400m relay was the runner-up at 3:28.48 with Krystal Cantey, Faraign Giles, Chiquita Martin and Hastings all collecting All-American honors.

Thomas Hilliard was fifth in the 400m hurdles at 49.93 – just .01 from fourth place’s Joe Greene of Albany (49.92). Hilliard was sixth yesterday in the 110m hurdles and was the ONLY male doubling in both hurdle races this year. A former walk-on who came to Carolina play soccer originally, Hilliard finished his career as a four-time All-American – with all being collected this year (60m hurdles, 4x400m relay, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles).

“I worked hard all year long for one hour – the hour between the 110m hurdles finals and the 400m hurdles semi-finals yesterday. It’s crazy you work that hard and a blessing from God to make both finals,” said Hilliard. “It didn’t feel realistic at times, but it’s over.”

Cantey finished fifth in the 400m hurdles in the next race. Cantey ran a 56.49 – just off her personal best.

“She has had a phenomenal freshman year,” said Frye.

The men’s 4x400m relay was seventh with a time of 3:05.03. Finishing as All-Americans were Quentin Moore, Derron Flood, Jamil James and Ray Miley. The men were third indoors.