Mel Lattany

Mel Lattany
Personal information
Nationality  United States
Born (1959-08-10) August 10, 1959
Sport
Sport Running
Event(s) 100 metres, 200 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s) 100 m: 9.96 s (Athens 1984)

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

A standout at the University of Georgia, he established a new Men's World Junior Record over 100 metres on July 30, 1978. He won a gold medal over 100 metres at the 1981 Summer Universiade, and over 200 metres at the 1981 IAAF World Cup. On May 5, 1984, Lattany became only the fifth man (second at sea-level) to break the 10-second barrier when he clocked 9.96 seconds in Athens, Georgia. He retired from track in 1985 to become an NFL wide receiver.[1] He did not, however, play in the NFL. In 1987, he was reinstated by the International Amateur Athletics Federation to run track again.[2]

References

  1. Dent, Jim (July 16, 1985). "Will Lattany be a Dallas catch?". Dallas Times Herald.
  2. "3 Ex-Pro Football Players Reinstated". New York Times. March 30, 1987.
Records
Preceded by
United States Harvey Glance
Men's World Junior Record Holder, 100 metres
30 July 1978 – 24 May 1980
Succeeded by
United States Stanley Floyd
Achievements
Preceded by
United States Calvin Smith
Men's season's best performance, 100 metres
1984
Succeeded by
United States Carl Lewis
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