Natasha Hastings
Encyclopedia
Natasha Monique Hastings (born July 23, 1986) is an American
sprint athlete of Jamaican
and Trinidadian descent.
Hastings began her track career at a very early age and made a first place win at the USATF Junior Olympics in the 400 metres
in the Youth Girls division. She attended A. Philip Randolph Campus High School
in Harlem
, New York
, where she was able to take her track and field interest to a more competitive level.
Hastings attended the University of South Carolina
to work under Curtis Frye
. There, Hastings started to become known as "the 400M Diva” after accidentally describing the ladies track team as the "Gamecock Divas" in honor of the school's mascot, the Gamecock. After coming back from a key injury, 2007 was considered Hastings' breakout year. Hastings went home to New York for the New Balance Collegiate Invitational and won the 400 m race in 51.70, a personal record at the time, and anchored the 4×400m to a win with the fastest collegiate time for the year. Also in 2007, she won the SEC Championships by running a 50.84. Hastings went on to win the NCAA Championship title and her time in the 400 m at 50.15 was the second fastest time ever on the collegiate level and she had successfully competed undefeated all season becoming the Indoor and Outdoor 400 m champion.
In 2008 at the age of 22, Hastings made the USA Olympic Track and Field Team. She won an Olympic Gold Medal in the Women’s 4×400 m relay team by running a 49.87 split at the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sprint athlete of Jamaican
Jamaican American
Jamaican Americans are Americans of Jamaican heritage or Jamaican-born people who live in the United States of America. American citizenship is not a prerequisite of being a Jamaican American as permanent residents are also given this title....
and Trinidadian descent.
Hastings began her track career at a very early age and made a first place win at the USATF Junior Olympics in the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
in the Youth Girls division. She attended A. Philip Randolph Campus High School
A. Philip Randolph Campus High School
The A. Philip Randolph Campus High School is a public secondary school in New York City. It is located in Harlem, adjacent to the City College of New York. It occupies a landmark building formerly occupied by The High School of Music & Art. The school was established in 1979 as an educational...
in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where she was able to take her track and field interest to a more competitive level.
Hastings attended the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
to work under Curtis Frye
Curtis Frye
Curtis Frye is the head coach for the University of South Carolina Track and Field teams. He served as an assistant coach for the United States women's track and field team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.Fry's coaching specialties are the hurdling events, sprints, and relays...
. There, Hastings started to become known as "the 400M Diva” after accidentally describing the ladies track team as the "Gamecock Divas" in honor of the school's mascot, the Gamecock. After coming back from a key injury, 2007 was considered Hastings' breakout year. Hastings went home to New York for the New Balance Collegiate Invitational and won the 400 m race in 51.70, a personal record at the time, and anchored the 4×400m to a win with the fastest collegiate time for the year. Also in 2007, she won the SEC Championships by running a 50.84. Hastings went on to win the NCAA Championship title and her time in the 400 m at 50.15 was the second fastest time ever on the collegiate level and she had successfully competed undefeated all season becoming the Indoor and Outdoor 400 m champion.
In 2008 at the age of 22, Hastings made the USA Olympic Track and Field Team. She won an Olympic Gold Medal in the Women’s 4×400 m relay team by running a 49.87 split at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.