Elon University Athletics

One of the most respected names in the track & field community, Mark Elliston is in his 20th season at Elon University and his 37th as a head coach at the NCAA Division I and II levels in 2025-26. Over the past 19 years under Elliston’s leadership, the Phoenix track & field program has won eight CAA Championships (six outdoor, two indoor) and recorded four additional runner-up finishes, along with numerous accomplishments in both the CAA and Southern Conference while earning regional and national recognition.
 
Virtually every Phoenix indoor and outdoor track & field record has been broken during Elliston’s tenure at Elon. In 2014, Elliston was given the title of Director of Track & Field and Cross Country.
 
Elliston By The Numbers – At Elon

• 6 CAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships (2015-16, 2021-23, 2025)
• 2 CAA Indoor Track & Field Championships (2023, 2025)
• 6 CAA Women’s Cross Country Championships (2019-23, 2025)
• 6-time CAA Women's Outdoor Coach of the Year (2015-16, 2021-23, 2025)
• 1-time CAA Women's Indoor Coach of the Year (2023)
• 2-time SoCon Women’s Outdoor Coach of the Year (2010-11)
• 41 NCAA East Preliminary/regional qualifiers
• 74 individual conference champions
• 7-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team (2007-12, 2023)

 
During the 2024-25 season, Elon reclaimed the CAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship, highlighted by three individual champions in Adriana Clarke (hammer throw), Quinn Smith (1,500-meter) and Lizzie Lopez (heptathlon). The Phoenix flexed its depth throughout the meet with multiple podium finishes. The Phoenix also posted a strong indoor campaign, finishing second at the CAA Indoor Championships after leading the meet following the first day of competition.
 
In 2023-24, Elon captured its fifth consecutive CAA women’s cross country championship and finished runner-up at both the CAA Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Lauryn Carlton won the CAA weight throw title, while Jette Beermann captured conference championships in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Piper Jons also added an outdoor title in the 400 meters as the Phoenix scored 111 points to place second at the outdoor meet.
 
The 2022-23 season marked one of the most successful in program history as Elon swept the CAA women’s cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field championships. The Phoenix won the inaugural CAA Indoor Track & Field Championship with 129.833 points and followed with a dominant performance at the outdoor meet, scoring 185 points — the largest margin of victory in the CAA since 2003. Leandra Lorenz repeated as champion in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters, while the 4x100 relay team set new meet and facility records.
 
Elon also captured the CAA Outdoor Championship in 2022, scoring 195 points, its highest total since 2016. Lorenz was named CAA Track Athlete of the Year, while Elliston earned CAA Women’s Coach of the Year honors.
 
The Phoenix previously won CAA outdoor titles in 2021 and 2016, highlighted by Scholasticah Kemei becoming the program’s first CAA Track Athlete of the Year in 2021 and a program-record 193 points at the 2016 championships.
 
Elon earned its first CAA championship in 2015 during its inaugural season in the league, while earlier highlights under Elliston included Bryanna Hames advancing to the NCAA Championships in the discus, Emily Dixon winning four CAA heptathlon titles, and Melissa Anastasakis becoming the program’s first ECAC Indoor champion in the mile.
During the six seasons from 2007-12, Elon produced 78 All-Conference performers and 26 All-Freshman honorees. Each season the Phoenix earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors.
 
Prior to coming to Elon, Elliston served as head coach for both the men’s and women’s track & field programs at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania. Elliston coached seven Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship teams and produced 30 NCAA Division II All-Americans, including three national champions. He also served as Lock Haven’s head cross country coach for 11 years.
 
Elliston By The Numbers – At Lock Haven

• 30 NCAA D-II Track and Field All-Americans
• 3 NCAA D-II National Champions
• Numerous NCAA D-II National Qualifiers
• 7 PSAC men’s and women’s team championships (indoor and outdoor)
• 8 PSAC men’s and women’s team runners-up (indoor and outdoor)
• Numerous PSAC Track and Field MVPs
• 3-time NCAA East region National Coach of the Year (1999, 2002, 2003)
• 3-time PSAC Conference Coach of the Year (1999, 2002, 2003)
• 9-time USCCA/USTCA All-Academic Team (1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
• Athletes broke every indoor and outdoor school record

 
Elliston’s squads received academic team awards from the United States Track Coaches Association on seven occasions and from the United States Cross Country Coaches Association five times. The USTCA honored 18 Lock Haven athletes with individual academic accolades while the USCCCA recognized 13 Eagles during his tenure.
 
Elliston earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1986. The McLoud, Oklahoma native was a three-time NAIA All-American, twice in the high jump (1983, 1986). In 1986 he won the NAIA national championship in the decathlon while setting a national record in the high jump. Elliston was inducted into the Oklahoma Baptist University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
 
Prior to coaching at Lock Haven, Elliston earned his master’s degree at The Citadel, where he served two years as an assistant coach for the cross country and track & field programs.
 
Elliston and his wife, Kelly, have two sons, Luke and Logan.
 
Elliston is a USATF Level II Certified Coach (sprints, jumps, hurdles, relays).

Last updated: March 12, 2026