Tosta takes silver medal

By Uriah A. Kiser

Published: August 21, 2008

STAFFORD — An athlete with local roots has taken the silver medal in the women’s 400 meter hurdles competition in Beijing.

Sheena Tosta, 25, and formerly of Stafford, placed second in the event behind Jamaica’s Melanie Walker, who took the gold. No female athlete from the United
States has ever placed first at this event, according to the United States Olympic Committee.

Tosta made the 400-meter dash in 53.7 seconds Wednesday morning, shaving off more than a tenth of a second from her fourth-place 2004 Olympic run in Athens. She also competed last year at the World Championships in Japan; there she finished the event in 54.55 seconds, according to the Beijing Olympic
Organizing Committee.

Tosta got her start in track and field at Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge. In 2000 the athlete won the Penn Relays for the third consecutive time in a row, the first time any female high school athlete had accomplished the feat, according to the U.S. Olympic Committee. Tosta went on be honored by Track & Field
News as the Outstanding Female High School Indoor Track and Field performer for the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

At the Virginia State Championships Tosta competed and won in the 300-meter hurdles event, garnering a state record of 40.94 seconds. She is tied with U.S.
Olympian Paula Girven for winning four events, the most ever won at a Virginia State meet. Between 1997 and 2000 she held 28 district and regional indoor and outdoor events, 15 Virginia state championships for individual titles and six national crowns.

Tosta still has relatives in the Northern Virginia area, but now calls Los Angeles, Calif. home.