The SPHINX | Fall 1983 | Volume 69 | Number 3 198306903

Page 25

ALPHA ATM ticipating in the 1980 Olympics, he won the SEC Indoor 60-yard dash. In addition, he was Georgia's nominee for the 1980 SEC Athlete of the Year and was named Georgia Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Emerging as one of the top collegians in the sprinting arena1. . "tt^j/gJH"^ Lattany began the 1981 season in grand fashion running a 6.10 at the Dallas-Times Herald meet in the 60-yard dash. One of the highlights of the 1981 indoor season came in the SEC Championships, where Lattany won both the 60 and 440 yard dashes to win the Commissioner's Trophy which goes annually to the high point man at the event. After that, he went on to finish second in the MCAA Indoor 60 yard dash1 A very quiet and easy going man, Lattany's success continued as the outdoor season opened He began the 1980 season with the Georgia Relays. by being named to the Mel took first in the NCAA Indoor All-America Invitational 100 meter Team in the 60-yard dash. with a 10.40 and For an encore, he was named stunned an overflowto the NCAA outdoor Alling crowd of Floridians America team in the 200- with a 10.04 time in a meter dash and then made tri-meet with Florida the U.S. Olympic team in and Florida State the 100-meter dash and 400three weeks later. The meter relay. 10.04 time was the A damper was put on world's top time in that Lattany's career when the event in 1981. United States decided to The Brunswick, Georgia boycott the Olympic games native traveled to Des in 1980. "Boycotting the Moines, Iowa on April 24, Olympics was like taking 1981 with hopes of doing away a childhood dream," something no athlete has the Georgian lamented. ever accomplished in the 72 "Being an established years the Drakes Relays had sprinter I was confident I been run. What he wanted could do well. It was like to do, and ultimately did, having a Heisman Trophy was win his fourth consecutaken away." tive 100-meter Drake title with a 10.33 enroute to Although Lattany didn't being named the Outstandaccomplish his goal of par-

He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. Sounds like a description of Muhammed Ali. Could it be? No, it's Mel Lattany and he's currently preparing for the 1984 Olympics. Currently ranked fourth in the world in the 100-meter dash and second in the United States, Lattany has earned numerous honors in the track and field arena. A former World Junior record holder in the 100-meter dash, Lattany was the National AAU Junior 200meter champion in 1978. He won the 1979 SEC 100meters and was a member of the 1979 SEC 400-meter championship relay team. Mel was on the 1979 World Cup and World University Game teams, and, as a member of the 1978 USA Junior Team, he was undefeated on the 1978 European Tour. He was also a member of the South team in the 1978 and 1979 Summer Sports Festival Meet.

TVio QnViinv / Fall 1 QS1

run by Wallace Jackson

Mel Lattany

ing Male Performer at the meet. The four-time Drake Relay 100-meter champion is optimistic about the upcoming 1984 Olympics. "My chances are good for the upcoming Olympics," he said. "My personal bests in the 200-meter are 19.9 (hand time) and 20.1 (Electronic)." The Georgia sprinting sensation, who enjoys playing tennis, attending movies, and going swimming during his spare time, has set some lofty goals for next year including going to the Olympics. Look for him in Los Angeles! 23


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The SPHINX | Fall 1983 | Volume 69 | Number 3 198306903 by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity - Issuu