Latrisha Jordan had a glory-filled career with the Fresno State women's track and field program.
The 2008 Central Valley High School graduate placed eighth in the 400 hurdles at NCAA Division-I Championships her freshman year, and captured three WAC individual titles.
"Not a lot of people can say that," Jordan stated. "My natural ability and coaches, and me wanting to compete helped me get to where I wanted to go. My family and friends are proud of me. I don't have any regrets."
Jordan suited up for the Bulldogs for the final time when she placed 33rd in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:01 at the NCAA West Preliminary at University of Texas-Austin on May 24.
"I should have done better," she said. "When I was running, I was focusing on too many things. I overthought."
Jordan took first in the 400 hurdles (59.64) and second in the 100 hurdles (13.99) at the WAC Championships on May 11 in Idaho. She also ran a leg on Fresno State's runner-up 4x100 relay team (46.34).
Jordan finished 35th in the 400 hurdles at the NCAA West Regional (1:01.08) in 2011. She placed fifth in the 400 hurdles (1:01.02) and 400 (56.37) during the league finals.
"I had to prove myself time and time again," Jordan said. "Before, I had nothing to lose."
Latrisha finished 21st in the 400 hurdles (1:01.07) at the NCAA Division I West Regional Track and Field Championships her sophomore year. Latrisha took first (59.20) at the conference finals.
Latrisha became the first female hurdler in Fresno State history to earn All-American status when she finished in the top 8 in the 400 hurdles (58.19) at the NCAA Championships in 2009. Jordan completed the event in a personal-best time of 58.14 seconds in the semifinals. She shattered her own school record five times during the season. Latrisha was named WAC Freshman of the year. She won the conference title in the 400 hurdles and as the anchor leg of the Bulldogs' 4x400 relay team. Jordan placed third in the 400. Her time of 54.35 ranked ninth in Fresno State's all-time record book.
"I started out so well," Latrisha said. "I was hungry."
Jordan graduated with honors from Fresno State in front of parents Herman and Lasean, sisters Kattie and Cece, and other family members on May 19 at the Save Mart Center.
"It wasn't hard," Latrisha said. "It just took a lot of discipline."
Latrisha earned a bachelor's degree in psychology.
She had a cumulative GPA of 3.14.
"I want to continue to work with disabled kids," said Jordan, who volunteered at the Fresno State Autism Center.
Latrisha will work toward a masters degree in the near future.
"I plan to go back to school in December or next year," she said.
Both of Jordan's sisters are college graduates. Cece and Kattie majored in sociology and criminal justice.
"It's something my mother instilled in us," Latrisha said.
Jordan was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Fresno State following a remarkable two-year career at Central Valley.
Seeded eighth, Jordan claimed a fifth-place medal in the 300-meter hurdles at the 90th annual CIF State Track and Field Championships. She completed the race in a personal-best 42.40 seconds, which ranked 25th in the nation.
Latrisha also claimed Masters and Division III titles during her senior year.
She swept the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 400 and 200 at the Valley Oak League finals as well.
Latrisha finished 19th with a time of 45.94 in the 300 hurdles at the state meet as a junior. She took first at Masters, and collected four conference titles (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 200 and 100).
Jordan owns school records in seven individual events (100, 200, 400, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump and long jump) and two relays (4x100 and 4x400). "I'm pretty satisfied," said Jordan, who might return to Central Valley as a volunteer coach next spring. "I love competition. It pushes me to do better. I'm going to miss the adrenaline rush."
Latrisha will start the next stage of her life by making the transition from student-athlete to working adult. She's ready to hang up her track spikes.
"I'm still going to be doing something positive," Jordan said. "I have to be successful. That's my personality. I don't like to disappoint people."
The 2008 Central Valley High School graduate placed eighth in the 400 hurdles at NCAA Division-I Championships her freshman year, and captured three WAC individual titles.
"Not a lot of people can say that," Jordan stated. "My natural ability and coaches, and me wanting to compete helped me get to where I wanted to go. My family and friends are proud of me. I don't have any regrets."
Jordan suited up for the Bulldogs for the final time when she placed 33rd in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:01 at the NCAA West Preliminary at University of Texas-Austin on May 24.
"I should have done better," she said. "When I was running, I was focusing on too many things. I overthought."
Jordan took first in the 400 hurdles (59.64) and second in the 100 hurdles (13.99) at the WAC Championships on May 11 in Idaho. She also ran a leg on Fresno State's runner-up 4x100 relay team (46.34).
Jordan finished 35th in the 400 hurdles at the NCAA West Regional (1:01.08) in 2011. She placed fifth in the 400 hurdles (1:01.02) and 400 (56.37) during the league finals.
"I had to prove myself time and time again," Jordan said. "Before, I had nothing to lose."
Latrisha finished 21st in the 400 hurdles (1:01.07) at the NCAA Division I West Regional Track and Field Championships her sophomore year. Latrisha took first (59.20) at the conference finals.
Latrisha became the first female hurdler in Fresno State history to earn All-American status when she finished in the top 8 in the 400 hurdles (58.19) at the NCAA Championships in 2009. Jordan completed the event in a personal-best time of 58.14 seconds in the semifinals. She shattered her own school record five times during the season. Latrisha was named WAC Freshman of the year. She won the conference title in the 400 hurdles and as the anchor leg of the Bulldogs' 4x400 relay team. Jordan placed third in the 400. Her time of 54.35 ranked ninth in Fresno State's all-time record book.
"I started out so well," Latrisha said. "I was hungry."
Jordan graduated with honors from Fresno State in front of parents Herman and Lasean, sisters Kattie and Cece, and other family members on May 19 at the Save Mart Center.
"It wasn't hard," Latrisha said. "It just took a lot of discipline."
Latrisha earned a bachelor's degree in psychology.
She had a cumulative GPA of 3.14.
"I want to continue to work with disabled kids," said Jordan, who volunteered at the Fresno State Autism Center.
Latrisha will work toward a masters degree in the near future.
"I plan to go back to school in December or next year," she said.
Both of Jordan's sisters are college graduates. Cece and Kattie majored in sociology and criminal justice.
"It's something my mother instilled in us," Latrisha said.
Jordan was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Fresno State following a remarkable two-year career at Central Valley.
Seeded eighth, Jordan claimed a fifth-place medal in the 300-meter hurdles at the 90th annual CIF State Track and Field Championships. She completed the race in a personal-best 42.40 seconds, which ranked 25th in the nation.
Latrisha also claimed Masters and Division III titles during her senior year.
She swept the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 400 and 200 at the Valley Oak League finals as well.
Latrisha finished 19th with a time of 45.94 in the 300 hurdles at the state meet as a junior. She took first at Masters, and collected four conference titles (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 200 and 100).
Jordan owns school records in seven individual events (100, 200, 400, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump and long jump) and two relays (4x100 and 4x400). "I'm pretty satisfied," said Jordan, who might return to Central Valley as a volunteer coach next spring. "I love competition. It pushes me to do better. I'm going to miss the adrenaline rush."
Latrisha will start the next stage of her life by making the transition from student-athlete to working adult. She's ready to hang up her track spikes.
"I'm still going to be doing something positive," Jordan said. "I have to be successful. That's my personality. I don't like to disappoint people."
