Lafond named Conference Carolinas freshman of the year

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on April 22, 2013 1:47 PM

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Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive freshman Dylan Lafond collected the Conference Carolinas men's track and field freshman athlete-of-the-year award during the season-ending meet contested at Lees-McRae.

Lafond emerged the conference champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, and just missed winning the steeplechase. Lafond recorded an NCAA provisional time in the 10,000.

Teammate Aki Kitagawa landed second-team honors with third-place efforts in the 1,500 and 5,000. Lamonte Taylor received third-team accolades after taking third in the 100 meters and six in the 200.

Taylor also ran on the Trojans' 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams.

MOC returns to action May 5 at the Duke Twilight.

Women's golf

GRAHAM -- Mount Olive College placed four individuals among the top 100 and claimed the Conference Carolinas women's stroke-play tournament championship on Sunday afternoon.

The Trojans defeated North Greenville, 656-665, on The Challenge Golf Club links. Queens captured third place, while King (Tenn.) ended up fourth.

All four teams advanced to a modified-medal match play tournament today. The top golfers for each team will be matched together with the winner from each group earning a point for their respective team.

The team champion will be determined by total points.

MOC opened play Sunday with a slim, three-stroke lead, but carved 10 strokes off Saturday's opening round. Virginia Lane, who was named the league's player-of-the-year and freshman-of-the-year, shot the Trojans' lone sub-80 score during the 36-hole event.

Lane was joined on the all-Conference Carolinas tournament team by teammates Julie Loennechen, Emelie Andersson and Stefany Knigh. Leonnechen (164) tied for sixth, Andersson (167) tied for ninth and King (168) shared 11th place.

Teammate Emy Ohling tied for 20th.

Men's golf

GRAHAM -- Dalton Gore and Kyle Simpson placed among the top 20 individuals, but Mount Olive didn't qualify for today's match-round play at the Conference Carolinas men's golf championships.

The Trojans finished sixth as a team overall.

Gore (148) tied for 13th, while Simpson placed 20th after posting a 74 in second-round play. Gore missed all-tournament recognition by one stroke.

MOC's Jesus Valderrama (152) and Mark O'Hara (153) finished tied for 30th overall. Sebastian Andersen (156) ended up 41st.

Belmont Abbey claimed the league's automatic qualifying bid with a 574-581 triumph over perennial power Barton. The Trojans dropped three positions after Saturday's 18-hole round and scored a 602.