Melvin Lattany was born on August 10,1959 and is a former American track athlete.
11 Facts About Mel Lattany
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Mel Lattany was one of the world's dominating sprinters in the early 1980s.
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Mel Lattany practiced football, where although he was primarily a wide receiver, he played as a safety, cornerback, punt returner, kickoff returner and was the backup placekicker.
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Mel Lattany 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.
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Mel Lattany did however receive one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals awarded to those athletes affected by the boycott.
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Mel Lattany 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.
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On May 5,1984, Mel Lattany became the fifth man to break the 10-second barrier when he clocked 9.96 seconds in Athens, Georgia.
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Mel 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.
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In 2009, Mel Lattany was honored as one of the 20 Athletes of the Century at the Drake Relays.
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In 2013, Mel Lattany was inducted into the Glynn County Sports Hall of Fame.
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Mel 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.