Mel Lattany


Melvin Lattany 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.
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 created especially for the spurned athletes.
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 only the fifth man to break the 10-second barrier when he clocked 9.96 seconds in Athens, Georgia.

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. At the time, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.29 seconds. He was released on August 19.
In 1987, he was reinstated by the International Amateur Athletics Federation to run track again.