Laura Blank Latus was an inaugural member of the Tosa East women’s track team, pioneering women’s sports while simultaneously excelling on the track. In the team’s 1st year of existence, Latus was a member of an 880-yard relay that set a state record to win the state championship. The next year, that same relay team beat their previous record to win a second time. In addition, Latus finished 3rd individually in the 100-yard dash at the state meet. Following high school graduation, Latus went on to compete in Division I track and field hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Division I track at the University of Tennessee. At UWM, she went to AIAW Nationals and was voted Most Valuable Athlete each year. At UT, Latus was voted Track Club Athlete of the Year and ranked 15th in the world in the pentathlon, in Sports Illustrated. She was an All-American three times and voted into the UWM Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986. After college, Latus coached track at both the high school and college levels.
