UMO cross country teams expect success in 2014

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 11, 2014 1:46 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Upon conclusion of last year's NCAA Division II championship meet, members of the University of Mount Olive men's cross country team approached head coach Matt van Lierop.

They asked for van Lierop's help.

"They said they wanted to be better than ever, and (were) willing to do what it takes to get there," van Lierop said. "We've devised a training program to do just that. We focused on replacements for key losses on the men's side."

Many of the pieces remain in place for the Trojans to continue their unprecedented success this fall. However, they'll run without two-time All-American Dylan Lafond, who transferred to the University of Illinois.

UMO will depend on sophomore Eugini Gil, who was the Conference Carolinas rookie-of-the-year in 2013. Also back are junior Aki Kitigawa, junior Steven Greco, sophomore Jacob Urys, sophomore Fredic Lang and senior Austin Steagall.

That core helped the Trojans repeat as the Southeast Regional champions, and place 16th among 32 teams at the NCAA Division II nationals a year ago.

"As long as the men continue to follow the training path they are already on, they'll make a fourth appearance (at NCAAs)," said van Lierop, whose team is picked to repeat as the Conference Carolinas champion and is ranked No. 11 nationally in the USTFCCCA Division II preseason top 25 poll.

"My expectations for the men and women is that we will continue to improve as we have since Coach (Jackie) Kirby and I have been here at UMO."

The bridesmaids each of the past four seasons in the Conference Carolinas championship meet, the Trojan women are rebuilding this fall behind the leadership of two returners -- sophomore Bailee Henry and Emily Shaw. Henry earned rookie-of-the-year honors in 2013, while Shaw received third-team, all-conference accolades.

The duo is joined by a strong recruiting class that includes Danielle Heymach, Becca Farnsley, Ana Figueroa, Shania Riffle and Julia Bridges.

"We are building the program back up on the women's side," van Lierop said. "We are hoping to finally capture that (conference) title that has eluded us."