NEW ORLEANS –– Appalachian State University men's track and field student-athlete Ryan Hastings earned Sun Belt Conference Track Athlete of the Week, voted on by the conference's head coaches and announced by the league office on Wednesday.

“This past weekend Ryan accomplished another one of his collegiate goals, running under a 1:50.00 time for the 800-meters,” said head coach John Weaver. “We thank the Sun Belt coaches for recognizing this feat and honoring him with athlete of the week. He is now number one all-time in the 800-meters and a school record holder.”

Hastings, a junior from Matthews, N.C., broke the Mountaineer program record over the weekend in the 800-meter run. While at the Weems Baskin Invitational hosted by the University of South Carolina, Hastings ran a 1:49.42 record-breaking time. He finished third in the event.

Hastings' time broke Alex Taylor's previous record of 1:49.80 which was set in 2012. Hastings was previously third on the all-time program list in the 800-meters with a time of 1:50.46. His new personal-record is is the top time in the Sun Belt by more than two seconds and ranks 16th in the country.

Hastings, along with the rest of the Mountaineers, head to the Florida Relays this weekend.