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

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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