Mel Lattany
Personal information
Nationality United States
Born (1959-08-10) August 10, 1959
Brunswick, Georgia
Height5 ft 8+3⁄4 in (1.75 m)
Weight173 lb (78 kg)
Sport
SportRunning
Event(s)100 metres, 200 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal best100 m: 9.96 s (Athens 1984)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
IAAF World Cup
Gold medal – first place1981 Rome200 m
Silver medal – second place1979 Montreal4×100 m relay
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place1981 Bucharest100 m
Liberty Bell Classic
Gold medal – first place1980 Philadelphia100 m

Melvin Lattany (born August 10, 1959) is a former American track athlete. He was one of the world's dominating sprinters in the early 1980s.

Early years

Lattany attended Glynn Academy, where he was a standout sprinter in track. He also practiced football, where although he was primarily a wide receiver, he also played as a safety, cornerback, punt returner, kickoff returner and was the backup placekicker.[1]

He accepted a track scholarship from the University of Georgia, where he established a new Men's World Junior Record over 100 metres on July 30, 1978.

Lattany qualified for the 1980 US Olympic team as a 100 metres sprinter and a member of the 4 × 400 metres relay team, but was unable to compete due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. He did however receive one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals awarded to those athletes affected by the boycott.[2]

He won a gold medal in the 100 metres at the 1981 Summer Universiade, and in the 200 metres at the 1981 IAAF World Cup, with a 20.21 seconds finish. On May 5, 1984, Lattany became the fifth man (second at sea level) to break the 10-second barrier when he clocked 9.96 seconds in Athens, Georgia.[1]

Professional career

Lattany retired from track in 1985 and signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League on June 20, looking to become an NFL wide receiver as a 25-year-old rookie.[3][4] At the time, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.29 seconds. He was released on August 19.[5]

In 1987, he was reinstated by the International Amateur Athletics Federation to run track again.[6]

Accolades and awards

In 2009, Lattany was honored as one of the 20 Athletes of the Century at the Drake Relays (he was never beaten in the 100 m, finals and preliminary races, in the four years he competed there, 1978 to 1981; in addition being named outstanding performer in 1981).[7]

In 2013, Lattany was inducted into the Glynn County Sports Hall of Fame.[8]

Rankings

Lattany was ranked among the best in the US and the world in both the 100 and 200 m sprint events from 1979 to 1984, according to the votes of the experts of Track and Field News.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "An Uncommon Rookie Struts His Stuff". New York Times. July 26, 1985. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  2. ↑ Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry (2008). Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
  3. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Andrews Still Out". June 21, 1985.
  4. ↑ Dent, Jim (July 16, 1985). "Will Lattany be a Dallas catch?". Dallas Times Herald.
  5. ↑ "Transactions". New York Times. August 20, 1985. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  6. ↑ "3 Ex-Pro Football Players Reinstated". New York Times. March 30, 1987.
  7. ↑ "GEORGIA'S TORRENCE, LATTANY HONORED AS DRAKE RELAYS ATHLETES OF THE CENTURY". georgiadogs.com. April 29, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Hall of Fame Inductees". Glynn County Sports Hall Of Fame. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  9. ↑ "TRACK & FIELD NEWS RANKINGS". Track and Field News. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
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