DYLAN LAFOND NAMED NATIONAL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK AND CHELSEA VAN DIJK WINS HONORABLE MENTION FOR USTFCCCA DIVISION II TRACK AND FIELD
DYLAN LAFOND NAMED NATIONAL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK AND CHELSEA VAN DIJK WINS HONORABLE MENTION FOR USTFCCCA DIVISION II TRACK AND FIELD
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Dylan Lafond, who
earned a pair of first-place finishes to help University of Mount
Olive claim its first-ever Conference Carolinas Men’s Indoor
Track and Field championship, has been named the USTFCCCA Division
II Men’s Track and Field National Athlete of the Week. The
award is administered by the United States Track and Field and
Cross Country Coaches Association.
A sophomore from Manchester, N.H., Lafond finished first in the
3000 meters and in the mile run. He also finished second in
the 5000 meters, placing behind teammate and event winner Austin
Steagall.
Lafond, who competed in the mile run at last year’s NCAA
Division II Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championship,
already posted an automatic qualifying time in the 3000 meters and
a provisional qualifying time in the mile run during the regular
season. He is also part of the Trojans’ distance medley team
that posted a provisional qualifier.
Lafond becomes the fourth student-athlete in Trojan athletics
history to earn an in-season national award. Kendrick Easley won a
Division II Bulletin Men’s Basketball Player of the Month
award during the 2007-08 season and earned a player of the
month honorable mention in 2009-10. Two Trojans won an AVCA
Men’s Volleyball Player of the Week award, Noel Garcia in
2008 and Jack Tutty in 2012.
http://www.umotrojans.com/sports/mtrack/2013-14/releases/201402241q6b1r
Chelsea van Dijk, who earned three first-place
finishes to help University of Mount Olive claim its first-ever
Conference Carolinas Women’s Indoor Track and Field
championship, earned USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Track and
Field National Athlete of the Week Honorable Mention. The award is
administered by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country
Coaches Association.
A freshman from Maastricht, Netherlands, Van Dijk won the 200
meters and the 400 meters. Van Dijk was the only runner to break
one minute in the 400 meters. She was also part of the
Trojans’ 4x400 meter relay team that finished first. In
addition to her performance in the running events, van Dijk earned
points for the Trojans in the high jump with a third-place
finish.
During the regular season, van Dijk recorded an NCAA II
provisional qualifying time in the 400 meters.
Van Dijk was one of two student-athletes nationwide to earn
honorable mention for the athlete of the week award, won by Karolin
Anders of Alaska-Anchorage. Van Dijk narrowly missed giving Mount
Olive a sweep of the award alongside Trojan men’s runner
Dylan Lafond who was named this week’s USTFCCCA Division II
Men’s Track and Field National Athlete of the Week.
Mount Olive will now await word which provisional qualifiers
will earn a bid to the 2014 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field
Championship, which take place March 14-15 in Winston-Salem at JDL
Fast Track, site of the Conference Carolinas Championship.
http://www.umotrojans.com/sports/wtrack/2013-14/releases/20140224upbubs