Career Highlights

• Three-time All-American (3K SC, 5K, & XC)
• 2017 Big Ten 3K Steeplechase Champion
• 2016 Olympic Trials Qualifier 
• Holds the fastest 8K time in Illinois XC history (23:22.4) 
• Holds School Indoor Records in the 3K & 5K
• Placed third overall at 2015 Big Ten XC Championships
• Two-time NCAA Midwest All-Region

2017

Outdoor Track & Field

• Placed 23rd in the steeplechase at NCAA Championshps
• Qualified for NCAA Championships in the steeplechase with a time of 8:56.31 at NCAA West Prelims 
• Won the Big Ten title in the 3,000m steeplechase, setting a new PR in the event with a time of 8:40.54
• Set an outdoor PR in the 5K at Drake Relays with a time of 13:56.61, 7th best in Illinois history
• Made his season debut in the 3K steeplechase at Bryan Clay with a time of 8:42.55
• Finished first in the 1500m at the Big Blue Classic 
• Won the 10K with a time of 31:38.29 at the UNLV Invite
• Academic All-Big Ten

Indoor Track & Field

• Scored four points for the Illini with a fifth-place finish at Big Ten Championships
• Ran the seventh-fastest mile in Illinois history, clocking 4:02.13 at the Terrier Invite

2016

Cross-Country

• Led the Illini at NCAA Championships, timing 30:34.6 to finish 56th 
• Named All-Midwest Region with a fifth-place finish, timing 30:27.1 in the 10K race
• Earned All-Big Ten honors for the second straight season with a 10th place finish at Big Ten Championships, timing 24:56.0 
• Placed third on the team, 31st overall, at the Joe Piane Invite with a time of 24:15.9.
• Academic All-Big Ten

Track and Field

Outdoor

• Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 3K Steeplechase 
• Red-shirt season
• Academic All-Big Ten

Indoor

• Second Team All-American in the 5,000m, placed 16th at NCAA Championships
• Placed runner-up in the 3K at Big Ten Championships with a time of 8:04.59
• Broke school 3K record at Rod McCravy with a time of 8:00.48
• Broke school 5K record at Iowa State Classic with a time of 13:46.72
• Won the mile run at the Illini Classic

2015

Cross Country

• Earned All-American honors with a 29th-place finish and a time of 30:18.2
• Finished 8th at NCAA Midwest Regional to earn at-large bid to NCAAs
• Broke the school record in the 8K with a time of 23:22.4 at Big Ten Championships, placing third overall
• Moved into the Illini 8k All-Time Top-10 with a time of 23:59.55 at the Greater Louisville Classic, passing Dan Kremske
• USTFCCCA All-Academic
• Academic All-Big Ten

Track and Field

Outdoor

• First Team All-American in the steeplechase
• Finished seventh at NCAA Championships
• Placed second at Big Ten Championships
• Broke the tape at the Drake Relays with a winning steeplechase time of 8:56.64
• Placed fifth at Big Ten Championships in the 3,000m and qualified for the NCAA West Prelims
• Recorded second place finishes at EIU Big Blue Classic (1,500m) and at the Jim Click Shootout (3,000m)

Indoor

• Did not compete

2014

Cross Country

• Redshirt season

At University of Mount Olive

• 2013 Conference Carolina's and Southeast Regional Cross Country Champion
• 4x All-American(steeplechase, DMR, Mile and 5k)
• Earned varsity letters in cross country (two) and indoor and outdoor track and field (two in each)
• Eleven collective individual Conference Carolina titles in cross country and track and field
• Five Conference Carolina team titles
• National Athlete of the Week

High School

• Attended Manchester Central High School
• Earned varsity letters in cross country (three) and basketball (two)
• All-State cross country 2010-11
• All-State indoor and outdoor track and field 2011-12
• 2011 All-New England cross country
• 2012 All-New England outdoor track and field

Personal

• Son of Jerry Lafond
• Born March 18, 1993
• Majoring in Sports Management
• Lists Kevin Garnett as his favorite athlete for Garnett's passion and work ethic
• Chose Illinois because it gave him the opportunity to compete at the Division I level as well as receive a degree from a great public institution

Personal Bests

Cross Country

6K: 19:10 - Illini Challenge (8/29/14)
8K: 23:22.4 - Big Ten Championships (11/1/15)
10K: 30:08.4 - NCAA Midwest Regional (11/13/15)

Track & Field

Outdoor
1,500m 3:50.11 - EIU Big Blue Classic (4/4/15)
3,000m: 8:28.88 - Jim Click Shootout (4/11/15)
5,000m 13:56.61 - Drake Relays (4/27/17)
3,000m SC 8:40.54 - Big Ten Championships (5/13/17)

Indoor
Mile: 4:02.13 - Terrier Invite (1/28/17)
3,000m: 8:00.48 - Rod McCravy Invite (1/23/16)
5,000m 13:46.72 - Iowa State Classic (2/12/16)

Updated June 2017