New Orleans (June 9) – University of Mount Olive freshman Janara Bryant has taken the NCAA Division II track and field world by storm, earning the title of Southeast Region Field Athlete of the Year from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The true freshman put together one of the most impressive debut seasons in program history, headlined by a national runner-up finish in the triple jump at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships. Bryant shattered the school record with a leap of 13.27 meters, securing second place and becoming just the second UMO women’s athlete ever to earn a silver medal at the national level.
Her dominance didn’t stop there. Bryant earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors in both the triple jump and high jump after leading the Southeast in the triple and ranking second in the high jump. She finishes the season as a two-time First-Team All-American—rare territory for a freshman.
Bryant was equally unstoppable in conference competition, earning Conference Carolinas Outdoor Women’s Freshman of the Year after piling up 24 points for the Trojans. She won individual titles in the triple jump and long jump and added a fifth-place finish in the high jump, playing a key role in UMO’s 11th straight Conference Carolinas Outdoor Championship, where the team posted a staggering 214 points.
With a championship pedigree, multiple records, and national recognition already under her belt, Janara Bryant has established herself as a rising star in Division II track and field—and she’s just getting started.
