DAPHNE, Ala. – An Olympic hurdler and American record holder who is now a successful college assistant track coach and Olympic assistant coach has been named the United States Sports Academy’s 2016 Alumna of the Year.

LaTanya Sheffield, who earned her Bachelor of Sports Science degree in sports management magna cum laude from the Academy in 2011, is the 2016 winner of the Academy’s top annual award for alumni achievement. The Alumni of the Year Award is given to the year’s most outstanding Academy graduate and the honoree must represent the ideals of sport and of the Academy.

Sheffield was presented the award by Academy trustee Dr. Linda Moore during the Academy’s 32nd annual Awards of Sport program held recently on campus.

Sheffield recently served as assistant coach for the women’s team for USA Track & Field (USATF) at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, working with the women’s sprinters and hurdlers. Her efforts contributed to USATF women earning the largest number of Olympic medals ever with 16.

Sheffield is currently an assistant track coach at Long Beach State University (LBSU) in California.

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For more information about the U. S. Sports Academy, call (251) 626-3303 or visit: USSA.edu.