Gamecock alum Hastings finishes fourth in Olympic 400-meters

University of South Carolina alum Natasha Hastings finished fourth in the Olympic final for the women’s 400-meter dash Monday.

Hastings ran a time of 50.34 and was in medal contention throughout the race, but was run down in the final 100 meters to keep her from her first individual Olympic medal.

Shaunae Miller, of the Bahamas, won gold in a finish decided by just seven thousandths of a second between her and Team USA’s Allyson Felix. Miller’s the first woman since 2004 to win gold in the 400 for the Bahamas, when former Gamecock standout and South Carolina Athletics Hall of Famer Tonique Williams-Darling took the title.

Hastings was trying to build off a season-best time of 49.90 in Sunday night’s semifinal. She got off to another strong start and was firmly in the top three runners through the first 200 meters. Shericka Jackson of Jamaica passed her in the home stretch to push her out of the top three and take bronze.

Hastings isn’t done at these games. She’s expected to run on Team USA’s 4x400m relay team, which will run in the prelims on Friday at 7:40 p.m.