June 28, 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Former Gamecock Natasha Hastings finished third in the 400-meter dash finals and three other former student-athletes advanced on Saturday at the 2014 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, Calif.

In an attempt to defend her 2013 USA outdoor championship, Hastings time of 50.53 got her on the podium again, this time in third place.

In the men’s 110-meter hurdles, a pair of South Carolina rising juniors were the last two out of the semifinals. Jermaine Collier went 13.88 (+0.4) and Dondre Echols clocked in at 14.00 (-0.5) to finish in 17th and 18th place. Alum Jason Richardson will line up in the semifinals after putting up a 13.48 (+0.4) in today’s race. The 110-meter hurdle finals are set for 3:25 p.m. ET tomorrow.

Former Gamecocks Tiffany Ross Williams and Johnny Dutch continued to cruise through the 400-meter hurdles. Ross Williams topped the field for the second day in a row with a 54.74 and will run for the women’s championship tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. ET. Dutch posted a time of 49.58 to easily win his heat and to move on to the men’s championships tomorrow at 5:19 p.m. ET.

In addition to Ross Williams, Olympic silver medalist Lashinda Demus also advanced to the 400-meter hurdle finals with her 56.23. With a time of 58.49, rising Gamecock junior Tyler Brockington finished 12th.

The USATF Outdoor Championships conclude tomorrow.