Rory Lieberman’s dedication leads the Dutchmen to championship success

By Avrey Grimm ‘26, staff writer

For LVC cross country standout Rory Lieberman, success didn’t come overnight; it was built through months of consistent training, early mornings and a drive to push past limits, all of which led him to an unforgettable season. 

“While training is a year-long endeavor, I would say that cross country training starts at the beginning of summer, working for months on end before coming to campus,” Lieberman said.

“The biggest thing is putting in the miles and workouts with the team and putting the work in every day,” Leiberman said. “From last year I have increased my mileage to allow myself to build a great aerobic base while also doing workouts two to three times a week since July.”

Lieberman’s commitment paid off in a big way. This season, he was named Runner of the Year and helped lead the Dutchmen men’s cross-country team to a MAC Conference Championship. 

“Winning Runner of the Year is great and it’s a great way to show that all of my hard work is paying off, but at the end of the day cross country is a team sport and winning MACs as a team is so much sweeter than any individual awards,” Lieberman said.  

“When people watch a cross-country meet, they see a bunch of individual runners, but sometimes they forget the team’s aspect,” Lieberman said. “Getting to step on the line with my best friends, who just like me have worked day in and day out, and achieve our goals is the best feeling ever.”  

Lieberman’s dedication and leadership continue to inspire his teammates, proving that success in cross country isn’t just about running fast — it’s about running together.