LaTanya Sheffield

LaTanya Sheffield specialized in the 400 metre hurdles, placing eighth in the event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Sheffield won a bronze medal in the intermediates at the 1987 Pan American Games and twice (1987, 1993) won the 400 hurdles at the US Olympic Festival. In May 1985, running in Austin, Texas, Sheffield set an American record for the 400 hurdles.

Sheffield ran in college for San Diego State University, winning the 1985 NCAA title in the intermediate hurdles. At the US Championships she was second in 1985 and third in 1987, and she placed third at the 1988 Olympic Trials. She continued to compete through the 2000 Olympic Trials, after which she retired to become a coach. She settled in Tucson, Arizona initially, coaching high school and Pops Track Club, and later became head coach at Cal State Long Beach. Sheffield was an assistant coach for women’s sprints and hurdles at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He daughter, Jaide Stepter, ran the 400 hurdles at Southern Cal and twice won the Pac-12 Conference Championship.

Personal Best: 400H – 54.36 (1988).