DYLAN LAFOND NAMED 2014 USTFCCCA DIVISION II MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD SOUTHEAST REGION TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR; MATT VAN LIEROP NAMED SOUTHEAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

DYLAN LAFOND NAMED 2014 USTFCCCA DIVISION II MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD SOUTHEAST REGION TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR; MATT VAN LIEROP NAMED SOUTHEAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

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MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – University of Mount Olive runner Dylan Lafond was named 2014 USTFCCCA Division II Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Southeast Region Track Athlete of the Year and Matt van Lierop was named 2014 USTFCCCA Division II Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, it was announced by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The regional award is the second for Lafond in 2013-14 and the third for van Lierop.

 A sophomore from Manchester, N.H., Lafond earned first-place finishes in four events and accounted for nearly one-fourth of Mount Olive’s points to help the Trojans win the 2014 Conference Carolinas Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship in April. Lafond won the 1500 meters, the 5000 meters, the 10,000 meters and the 3000 meter steeplechase to earn 40 of Mount Olive's 172 points.
During the regular season, Lafond earned automatic qualifying marks in the 5000 meters and the 3000 meter steeplechase. He’ll compete in the 2014 NCAA II Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship Thursday through Saturday at Allendale, Mich. Lafond earned All-America honors at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championship and won a pair of All-America awards at this year’s NCAA Indoor Championship.

In the fall, Lafond was named the 2013 USTFCCCA Division II Men’s Cross Country Southeast Region Runner of the Year. He also swept the conference player of the year awards in all three running sports in 2013-14: Conference Carolinas Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year, Conference Carolinas Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and Conference Carolinas Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year.

Van Lierop guided Mount Olive to the 2014 Conference Carolinas Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship to complete a “Triple Crown” for the Trojans in 2013-14. Mount Olive also won the 2013 Conference Carolinas Men’s Cross Country Championship and the 2014 Conference Carolinas Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championship.

During this past year, van Lierop was also named 2013 USTFCCCA Division II Men’s Cross Country Southeast Region Coach of the Year and 2014 USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.