Troy University Athletics
New Coaches Join Track Program
8/29/2011 2:39:00 PM | Track & Field
The Troy University Cross Country and Track & Field programs welcome three new coaches to the staff for the 2011-12 season.
Casey McDermott takes over as coach for men's and women's cross country teams and will also be an assistant for the track & field squad. She graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, with a B.A. in Psychology.
“I'm excited about being in the Troy community and having the opportunity to coach the cross country teams this fall,” McDermott said.
McDermott holds the school record for the 3,000-meter steeplechase at Drake University. She was also a presidential scholar, and awarded the 2009-10 Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award.
Lamont Johnson will take over as assistant coach for track & field team, coaching sprinters and hurdlers. He comes to Troy after working on the track & field staff at the University of Alabama for two years.
Johnson graduated from Iowa State University and, while there, he was a three-time individual national qualifier and a part of the national relay qualifier.
Mark Lukasko also joins the staff, working with multi-event athletes and jumpers. Prior to joining the Troy staff, he was an assistant track and field coach at Pennsylvania State University in the Behrend College.
“Troy, for me, is a launching pad for my coaching career,” Lukasko said. “I am looking forward to learning from Coach (Jill) Lancaster and Coach (Chip) Brundage.”
Lukasko competed in track and field at Penn State-Behrend for four years in the 100m, 200m, 400m relay, 4x200m relay, 1600m relay, high jump, long jump and triple jump.
Lancaster welcomed the new staff in a team meeting for cross country and track and field on August 23.
“The new staff will bring new perspectives, and we can always grow with new people,” Lancaster said.
The Cross Country teams will have their first meet on September 3 at home for the Troy Invitational. It is the fourth year for the event.
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