Southeastern University is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of alumna Latasha Dodson, who is also the wife of Nick Dodson, our SEU track & field coach. Latasha just made history at the 2026 World Masters Athletics (WMA) World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.
Latasha returned to competitive track and field in 2020 after nearly a decade away from the sport. Six years later, she ended the 2026 WMA World Championships as a three-time world champion and W35 (women’s 35 to 39 age category) world-record holder, bringing home three gold medals and helping Team USA set a new world record in the W35 4×100-meter relay.
Latasha’s Return to Track
After Latasha returned to the sport, she quickly established herself among the world’s top masters athletes. For the past two years, she had been ranked No. 1 in the world in her age group in both the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles. As she prepared for the WMA World Championships, she trained alongside SEU’s track & field team.
That connection made her journey especially meaningful because she trained alongside athletes she mentored and demonstrated firsthand what commitment to the sport can be.
Three Gold Medals and a Record-Setting Relay
Latasha’s first championship came as part of Team USA’s W35 4×100-meter relay. Running the second leg, she helped the team cross the finish line in 47.30 seconds. That race set a World Record, American Record, and Championship Record, surpassing the previous World Record of 47.65 seconds set by Trinidad and Tobago in 2015.
Not only did she succeed in relays, but she also set records in hurdle events, allowing her to gain more gold medals and record-breaking accomplishments.
In the W35 400-meter hurdles, Latasha won the world title with a time of 1:03.07. The victory made her the first American to win the event at the WMA World Championships since 2009. Latasha also became the first American woman to win the W35 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.21 seconds at the WMA World Championships since its beginning in 1975.
Impact Extending Beyond Competition
While Latasha’s accomplishments in Daegu are extraordinary, her impact at SEU has never been limited to what happens on a track.
Over the years, she has taken on many roles within our track & field program, from mentoring student-athletes academically to providing guidance and support to students on the autism spectrum. As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, she brings professional experience and a unique perspective to our program.
That willingness to give back makes her accomplishments even more meaningful to our community. The same person who stepped onto the world stage in Daegu is also someone who invests her time and experience into shaping the next generation of athletes.
Education That Shaped Her Journey
Latasha’s connection to SEU extends beyond her role as a mentor. She is a proud SEU graduate, having earned a Master of Science in Kinesiology degree in 2022.
Her graduate education has been an important part of her professional and personal journey, providing preparation as she continues to pursue opportunities to further her work in the autism field.
Today, Latasha represents SEU in a profound way: as an alumna who continues to learn, compete, coach, and serve others. She has shown that a return to the sport can lead to an extraordinary new chapter. She has also shown that success is most meaningful when it is shared through mentorship, service, and investment in others.
For SEU, her accomplishments represent more than remarkable performances on the track. They reflect the dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence that Latasha has demonstrated both as an athlete and as a member of the SEU community.
Congratulations, Latasha!
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