During the Summer of 2012, Hartford Athletics will catch up with former University of Hartford student-athletes who have made themselves into distinguished alumni since graduation. These former Hawks will be recognized both on HartfordHawks.com and on the official Hartford Hawks YouTube channel.

The first Hawk alum to be recognized in this series is Latasha Raineault, formerly Latasha Jarrett, a member of the track & field and cross country teams at Hartford and a member of the graduating class of 2008.

In her time on the track & field team, Raineault distinguished herself in competition, earning America East All-Conference honors in the high jump and tying what was then a school record in the event, clearing a height of 1.65 meters, a record that held until this past Spring.

While her record may have fallen, her contribution to the Haws will never be forgotten as she is most notably known for earning the NCAA Sportsmanship Award in her senior year.

Competing in both the high jump and the heptathlon, Jarrett missed a turn in the high jump, though the judges had marked that she had cleared the height. Raineault pointed out the mistake and was given the choice to take the mark and move on to the next height or forfeit her turn as a miss and continue jumping at the lower height.

Believing in the importance of honesty and fair play, Raineault declined the mark and took the miss, ultimately costing herself the conference championship and an opportunity to compete at the national level. She was later recognized by the NCAA for her commitment to sportsmanship.

Since graduating from the University of Hartford with a bachelor's degree in physical therapy, Raineault returned to Hartford to complete work on her doctorate, receiving her doctoral degree, also in physical therapy, in the Spring of 2010. Raineault works as a physical therapist in the West Hartford area and resides locally with her husband of just over a year.