LaTasha Colander

LaTasha Colander
LaTasha Colander, Sydney 2000
Personal information
BornAugust 23, 1976 (1976-08-23) (age 48)
Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight130 lb (59 kg)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney 4 × 400 m Relay

LaTasha Colander (born August 23, 1976, in Portsmouth, Virginia) is a retired track and field sprinter who competed internationally for the United States. In 1994, on athletic scholarship, Colander enrolled at, and later graduated from, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 1994, in the 100 m hurdles, Colander was the USA Juniors champion, and placed second in the World Junior Champs. Yet soon, she switched to sprints. In 2000 and 2001, she was the U.S. champion in the 400 m. In April 2000, her team set the women's world record in the 4 × 200 m relay, a record standing over 15 years onward.[1]

In the 2000 Olympics, Colander won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 m relay.[2] Upon her teammate Marion Jones's 2007 admission of illegal doping, the International Olympic Committee stripped the whole team's medals; in 2010, however, by a successful appeal, all team members except Jones had their medals restored.[3]

Colander missed the 2001 World Championships because of a quadriceps injury. In 2003, she switched concentration to the 100 m, and won the 2004 US Olympic Trials in this shorter event. At the 2005 World Championships, she placed fifth in the 200 meters.

In 2000, Colander had established the LC Treasures Within Foundation, its mission to strengthen kids, families, and the world through education, sports, and spirituality.

In 2014, Colander was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

Achievements

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing the  United States
1994 World Junior Championships Lisbon, Portugal 2nd 100m hurdles 13.30 (wind: +0.5 m/s)
— 4 × 100 m relay DQ
2000 Olympic Games Sydney, Australia quarter-finals 400 m 52.07
1st 4 × 400 m 3:22.62
2004 Olympic Games Athens, Greece 8th 100 m 11.18
— 4 × 100 m DNF
2005 World Championships Helsinki, Finland 5th 200 m 22.66

References

  1. ^ Record current in April 2017.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "LaTasha Colander-Richardson". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016.
  3. ^ "US relay runners win Olympic medals appeal". ESPN. Associated Press. July 16, 2010.
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