Hastings Does It Her Way

South Carolina's 400 ace has sights set on NCAA title

May 22, 2007

By Brett Hess

Special to CSTV.com

They refer to it as "a process."

	Brett Hess Brett Hess covers Cross Country for CSTV.com E-mail here!

        ---   Column Archive   --- TRACK/CROSS COUNTRY 11/19: Kipyego, Stanford Win As Expected 11/19: Blow For Blow To The Finish 11/16: Practically A Sure Thing 11/16: Championship Field Is A History Lesson In Motion 11/6: Irish Hope Shay Is An Inspiration 10/30: Louisville's Emergence Continues 10/23: No Margin For Error 10/16: Kuijken, FSU Race Toward Postseason 10/09: Liberty's McDougal Begins Run For Title 10/02: Rice Women Surprise At Notre Dame 9/25: Invitational Season In Full Swing 9/19: Still Pinching Herself 9/11: Kipyego, Barringer Are Favorites 9/4: Lomong and Rupp Lead Returnees 6/8: Texas Tech's Kipyego Closes In On History 6/7: Arizona's Arnold Sets Record in Decathlon 6/5: FSU Isn't Feeling The Pressure 6/5: Throwers Lead Sun Devils to Sacramento 5/29: Stars Shine at NCAA Regional Meets 5/26: Florida State Primed For East Regional Title 5/26: Top-Ranked LSU Women Trailing At Mideast Regional 5/22: Hastings Does It Her Way 5/15: Wisconsin, Omole Make History at Big Ten Meet 5/8: Notre Dame's Huddle Finishing Strong 5/1: Drake or Penn? Why Not Both? 4/24: Hokies Show Courage In Competing 4/17: Senioritis is Good for Diana Pickler 4/10: Little Longhorn With Big Heart 3/26: Patience Pays Off For Duke's Rowbury 3/20: Just Like The Movies 3/11: Solinsky Leads Wisconsin To First-Ever Track Title 3/11: Front-Running Sun Devils 3/11: Saluki Strong 3/9: The Dual Is On 3/9: Stevens Helps Pace Sun Devils To Early Lead 3/6: Outdoor Champ FSU Favored Indoors 3/5: Sun Devils Look to Take Next Step 2/20: As Belt Leaps Higher, So Does L'ville 2/6: Huskies Running Out In Front 11/19: Stanford's Aiming For Repeat 11/19: Wisconsin Favored To Defend Title

Natasha Hastings' career at South Carolina is nearing the end of its third year, so think of her at the 250-meter mark in one of her championship 400-meter runs.

The process calls for Hastings to win the 400 at next month's NCAA Outdoor Championships in Sacramento. If she does win, it will complement her title in the same event at the Indoor Championships this past March.

"This is all part of the process," said South Carolina coach Curtis Frye, talking about Hastings' career and her title aspirations in June. "To win would be the result of the work she has done, the plan she has followed."

Ironically, Hastings' career for the Gamecocks has been a microcosm of how she runs the 400: a great start, followed by a calm, steady mid-race which sets up a devastating kick. Of course, those final 100 meters of her college career won't be run until next year, but at this point the race is setting up perfectly.

"It's been a great season so far, but right now I have to stay focused on the next meet," Hastings said, referring to the NCAA East Regional at the University of Florida Friday and Saturday.

Hastings came to South Carolina as a high school phenom from Rosedale, N.Y. As a prep, Hastings ran in national and even international meets and her success continued for the Gamecocks. Hastings earned seven All-America honors in her first two years. She was close to her goal of being a national champion, but a title eluded her.

No worries, said Frye.

"She was growing and learning," Frye said of Hastings' freshman and sophomore seasons. "She was learning how to be a nurturing teammate, helping others study the sport. She's a great kid, talented and a hard worker. But now she's committed to success."

Frye likes to talk about Hastings in terms of being an all-around person. She is an academic All-American, heavily involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and she takes a keen interest in the needs of her teammates. But Hastings is well-rounded on the track as well. Along with her exploits in the 400, Hastings runs the 200 and is on the Gamecocks' nationally No. 1-ranked 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

"A person needs both speed and endurance to run the 100 and the 400," Frye said. "Natasha is the total package."

Although Hastings placed fourth in the 200 at the recent SEC Championships, the 400 is her premier event. Frye talks about Hastings' development in terms of managing the race.

"Natasha has learned to run as necessary," Frye said. "Especially when she has to run other events and there are heats in the 200 and 400. At some meets she'll have to run four 400s."

Specifically, Frye said Hastings has learned to "rest" in the middle of the 400. If she gets a great start, Hastings can literally rest until using her 100-meter speed to close out the race.

"The 400 is just a different event," Frye said. "You have to manage it. Natasha has learned a lot."

Hastings said her race revolves around the 250-meter mark.

"If I get to that point in good position, I'm very confident," Hastings said.

Confidence, Hastings believes, is the biggest difference this year compared to her first two years.

"I'm more at ease out on the track," Hastings said. "My goal is to be prepared. When I am prepared, I'm a lot more confident."

Hastings said the next two weeks are all about mental preparation as the NCAA regional and national meet loom.

 "I need to keep working hard because I don't want to lose my (fitness)," she said. "But being focused on the little things is important now. It's all a process."

 Yes, it is. And Hastings seems to have the process down pat.

ON TRACK

The NCAA Division I Regionals are this Friday and Saturday at four locations throughout the country. The nation's top teams couldn't be better distributed. (The following rankings are provided by Trackshark.com.)

EAST - University of Florida, Gainesville. The women's meet will include No. 3 South Carolina and No. 6 Georgia. Top female athletes include South Carolina's Natasha Hastings (400) and Georgia's Jenny Dahlgren (hammer). The men's meet will include No. 1 Florida State. Top male athletes include Florida State's Walter Dix (100, 200) and North Carolina's Justin Ryncavage (javelin).

MIDEAST - University of Missouri, Columbia. The women's meet will be headlined by No. 1 LSU and No. 4 Auburn. Top female athletes include Auburn's Kerron Stewart (100, 200) and Ajoke Odumosu of South Alabama (400 hurdles). The men's meet will feature No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Auburn, No. 6 Tennessee and No. 7 Louisville. Top male athletes include Wisconsin's Chris Solinsky (5,000) and Louisville's Andre Black (long jump, triple jump).

MIDWEST - Drake University, Des Moines. The women's meet will be led by No. 5 Texas and No. 7 Texas A&M. Top female athletes include Texas Tech's Sally Kipyego (5,000 and 10,000) and Texas' Destinee Hooker (high jump). The men's meet will feature No. 8 Baylor. Top male athletes include UNI's Ravin Cepeda (decathlon) and Texas' Leonel Manzano (1500).

WEST - University of Oregon, Eugene. The women's meet will include No. 2 Arizona State, No. 8 Stanford, No. 9 UCLA and No. 10 USC. Top female athletes include Arizona State's Sarah Stevens (shot put, discus) and Cal's Alysia Johnson (800) The men's meet will feature No. 4 USC, No. 5 Oregon, No. 8 UCLA and No. 10 Arizona State. Top male athletes include Oregon's Galen Rupp (10,000) and Washington's Ryan Brown (800).