NEW ORLEANS (June 9) – University of Mount Olive true freshman Janara Bryant received a postseason accolade after being named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) Southeast Region Field Athlete of the Year following a stellar outdoor season.

This spring, Bryant rewrote the Conference Carolinas and Mount Olive record book multiple times in the triple jump before making her first appearance at the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships. She garnered USTFCCCA all-region honors in two events after boasting the top mark in the region in the triple jump and the second-best performance in the high jump. On the national stage, Bryant finished as the national runner-up in the triple jump following a school record mark of 13.27 meters to place second overall. She made program history by becoming just the second-ever UMO Women's Track & Field athlete to post a second-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championship. Bryant concluded one of the best freshman campaigns in program history after becoming a two-time First-Team All-American.

At the Conference Carolinas Championship, Bryant was named the Outdoor Women's Freshman of the Year after tallying 24 points toward the team standings for the Trojans. She earned the Conference Carolinas crown in the triple jump and long jump while placing fifth in the high jump. Bryant and the Trojans delivered an 11th straight Conference Carolinas Outdoor Track & Field Championship after totaling a staggering 214 points in the team standings.