Natasha Mayers
Encyclopedia
Natasha Laren Mayers (born 10 March 1979 in Saint Vincent
) is a professional track and field
sprinter who competes internationally for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
. She is the national record
holder over 60 metres
, 100 metres
and 200 metres
. She represented her country at the Summer Olympic Games
in 2000 and 2004, and had the honour of national flag bearer at the latter edition. She has also appeared at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics
in 2001 and 2003, as well as having taken part at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.
She won the 2002 NCAA women's 200 m title, running for the USC Trojans
. Mayers received a two-year competitive ban from athletics after testing positive for testosterone
in July 2005. She returned to international competition in 2010 and won the 100 m gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
– an initial bronze medalist, she was twice upgraded as both of the other two original medalists were disqualified.
, attending Inglewood High School
in California
, before moving on to Los Angeles Southwest College
. She made her Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was just one of four competitors selected for the national Olympic team
that year. Her next global appearances came at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics
and she entered both the 100 metres
and 200 metres
competitions. Although she was eliminated in the heats of the latter event, she managed to reach the semi-finals of the 100 m and placed sixth in her heat.
Mayers gained a place at University of Southern California
and began competing for the USC Trojans
women's track team. She was cleared to race in May 2002 after initial eligibility issues and ran in the 100 m and 200 m at that year's NCAA Outdoor Women's Track and Field Championship. Her Trojan's teammate Angela Williams
won in the 100 m and Mayers finished one hundredth of a second behind her for second place. She had a personal record run of 22.80 seconds in the 200 m qualifiers, the third fastest ever time for a USC athlete, and then went on to secure the 200 m NCAA title in the final. Later that year she ran a 100 m best of 11.09 seconds at the Mt. SAC Relays
. She represented her country at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
and reached the finals of both the short sprints. She was eighth in the 100 m but was fourth over 200 m, missing the medals by a margin of 0.15 seconds.
At the 2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships
she ran in the 60 metres
and just missed out on a spot in the final, finishing third in her semi-final. She equalled her personal best of 11.09 seconds at the Mt. SAC Relays, but did not get past the heats in her race at the 2003 World Championships
in the outdoor season. She reached the 60 m semi-finals at the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships
and again ran over 100 m at the major outdoor championship – her second Olympic performance at the 2004 Athens Games came to an abrupt end after she suffered a hamstring
injury after reaching the quarter-finals stage. She was the Olympic national flag bearer at the Games opening ceremony
and was chosen at the St. Vincent Sports Personality of the Year for her achievements later that year.
She returned to St. Vincent in early 2005 and while there gave talks at local schools, promoting hard work and encouraging children to avoid the dangers of illegal drugs. In June that year she tested positive for the banned substance testosterone
and the IAAF gave her a two-year ban from the sport, stretching from June 2005 to June 2007. She made her competitive return at the Athens Grand Prix Tsiklitiria
, where she was runner-up in the 100 m behind Brianna Glenn
.
After a break from the sport, she returned a few years later to run at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
in New Delhi
. She reached the women's 100 m final
and came away with the Commonwealth
gold medal
after a chaotic series of events: A dual false start by Laura Turner
and Sally Pearson, saw just Turner eliminated and Mayers finished third for the bronze medal
behind Pearson and Oludamola Osayomi
. Pearson was then disqualified on appeal, meaning Mayers was elevated to the silver medal
behind Osayomi. However, the placings changed yet again as the Nigerian winner was disqualified after failing a drugs test, leaving Mayers as the event winner. This made her the first woman to win at the Commonwealth Games for Saint Vincent and Grenadines, the country's only medalist at the Games, and only their second gold medalist ever after Frankie Lucas's middleweight title at the 1974 edition
.
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
) is a professional track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
sprinter who competes internationally for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the Lesser Antilles chain, namely in the southern portion of the Windward Islands, which lie at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea where the latter meets the Atlantic Ocean....
. She is the national record
Vincentian records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines maintained by the country's national athletics federation: Team Athletics Saint Vincent & The Grenadines.-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:A = affected by altitude...
holder over 60 metres
60 metres
60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes...
, 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
and 200 metres
200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
. She represented her country at the Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
in 2000 and 2004, and had the honour of national flag bearer at the latter edition. She has also appeared at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics
IAAF World Championships in Athletics
The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
in 2001 and 2003, as well as having taken part at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.
She won the 2002 NCAA women's 200 m title, running for the USC Trojans
USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy...
. Mayers received a two-year competitive ban from athletics after testing positive for testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
in July 2005. She returned to international competition in 2010 and won the 100 m gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
– an initial bronze medalist, she was twice upgraded as both of the other two original medalists were disqualified.
Career
She was educated in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, attending Inglewood High School
Inglewood High School (California)
Inglewood High School is a public high school in Inglewood, California, USA. Opened in 1905, it is part of Inglewood Unified School District.-Notable alumni:*Sonny Bono, did not graduate*Jason Hart, NBA basketball player...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, before moving on to Los Angeles Southwest College
Los Angeles Southwest College
Los Angeles Southwest College is a community college located in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, California, United States, near the city of Los Angeles...
. She made her Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was just one of four competitors selected for the national Olympic team
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia with two track and field athletes and two swimmers.- Athletics:Men's Marathon*Pamenos Ballantyne* Final — 2:19:08 Women's 100 metres...
that year. Her next global appearances came at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics
2001 World Championships in Athletics
The 8th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada between 3 August and 12 August and was the first time the event had visited North America...
and she entered both the 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
and 200 metres
200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
competitions. Although she was eliminated in the heats of the latter event, she managed to reach the semi-finals of the 100 m and placed sixth in her heat.
Mayers gained a place at University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and began competing for the USC Trojans
USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy...
women's track team. She was cleared to race in May 2002 after initial eligibility issues and ran in the 100 m and 200 m at that year's NCAA Outdoor Women's Track and Field Championship. Her Trojan's teammate Angela Williams
Angela Williams
Angela Williams is an American athlete. Williams attended the University of Southern California, graduating in 2002....
won in the 100 m and Mayers finished one hundredth of a second behind her for second place. She had a personal record run of 22.80 seconds in the 200 m qualifiers, the third fastest ever time for a USC athlete, and then went on to secure the 200 m NCAA title in the final. Later that year she ran a 100 m best of 11.09 seconds at the Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. SAC Relays
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The relays, held in April each year, were started by then track coach Hilmer Lodge in 1959. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of...
. She represented her country at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the athletics events were held at the City of Manchester Stadium from the 26–30 July 2002. The route for the marathon event crossed Manchester city centre and finished in the stadium. The race walk events began alongside the Lowry Centre at Salford Quays...
and reached the finals of both the short sprints. She was eighth in the 100 m but was fourth over 200 m, missing the medals by a margin of 0.15 seconds.
At the 2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships
2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 9th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held in the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, UK from 14 March to 16 March 2003. It was the first time the Championships had been held in the UK...
she ran in the 60 metres
60 metres
60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes...
and just missed out on a spot in the final, finishing third in her semi-final. She equalled her personal best of 11.09 seconds at the Mt. SAC Relays, but did not get past the heats in her race at the 2003 World Championships
2003 World Championships in Athletics
The 9th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held from 23 August to 31 August 2003 in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.-Track:...
in the outdoor season. She reached the 60 m semi-finals at the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships
2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 10th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Budapest Arena, Hungary between March 5 and March 7, 2004...
and again ran over 100 m at the major outdoor championship – her second Olympic performance at the 2004 Athens Games came to an abrupt end after she suffered a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury after reaching the quarter-finals stage. She was the Olympic national flag bearer at the Games opening ceremony
2004 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympic Games was held on August 13, 2004 at the Olympic Stadium in Maroussi, Greece, a suburb of Athens. 72,000 spectators attended the event, with approximately 15,000 athletes from 202 countries participating in the ceremony as well...
and was chosen at the St. Vincent Sports Personality of the Year for her achievements later that year.
She returned to St. Vincent in early 2005 and while there gave talks at local schools, promoting hard work and encouraging children to avoid the dangers of illegal drugs. In June that year she tested positive for the banned substance testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
and the IAAF gave her a two-year ban from the sport, stretching from June 2005 to June 2007. She made her competitive return at the Athens Grand Prix Tsiklitiria
Athens Grand Prix Tsiklitiria
The Athens Grand Prix Tsiklitiria is an annual athletics event at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece as part of the IAAF World Challenge Meetings. It was first organized in 1963, held at the Panathinaiko Stadium...
, where she was runner-up in the 100 m behind Brianna Glenn
Brianna Glenn
Brianna Glenn is an American long jumper. She finished ninth at the 2002 World Cup and seventh at the 2006 World Athletics Final...
.
After a break from the sport, she returned a few years later to run at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
The athletics competition at the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held in New Delhi, India between 6 and 14 October. The track and field events took place between 6–12 October at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium while the marathon contests were held on a street course running through the city on 14...
in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. She reached the women's 100 m final
Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's 100 metres
The Women's 100 metres at the 2010 Commonwealth Games as part of the athletics programme was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Wednesday 6 October and Thursday 7 October 2010.The final was subject to some controversy...
and came away with the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
after a chaotic series of events: A dual false start by Laura Turner
Laura Turner
Laura Kate Turner is a British sprinter who represented Great Britain at the 2008 Olympics, in the 4 x 100m relay and the 100m....
and Sally Pearson, saw just Turner eliminated and Mayers finished third for the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
behind Pearson and Oludamola Osayomi
Oludamola Osayomi
Oludamola Bolanle Osayomi is a Nigerian sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres and 200 metres. She is a four-time gold medallist at the African Championships in Athletics and won an Olympic bronze medal with Nigeria in the 4×100 metres relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics...
. Pearson was then disqualified on appeal, meaning Mayers was elevated to the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
behind Osayomi. However, the placings changed yet again as the Nigerian winner was disqualified after failing a drugs test, leaving Mayers as the event winner. This made her the first woman to win at the Commonwealth Games for Saint Vincent and Grenadines, the country's only medalist at the Games, and only their second gold medalist ever after Frankie Lucas's middleweight title at the 1974 edition
1974 British Commonwealth Games
The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games....
.