Moody named Winter Scholar-Athlete of the Year

MOUNT OLIVE – University of Mount Olive senior Jaiden Moody was selected as the indoor women’s track & field Conference Carolinas Winter Scholar-Athlete of the Year Presented by Hudl.

The scholar-athlete awards are awarded annually to one individual in each Conference Carolinas sponsored sport. The Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners are chosen by the Conference Carolinas Student-Athlete Affairs and Awards Committee. To be considered, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher. In addition, the nominees for the award must have been named all-conference in their sport and also chosen academic all-conference.

Moody is now a two-time recipient of the accolade after earning it during the 2022 outdoor season. She becomes the third UMO indoor women’s track & field student-athlete to garner the honor, joining Taylor Moncrief and Nichole Poppe.

A native of Vacaville, Calif., Moody was a national qualifier on the 4×400 relay team, which shattered the conference and school record with a time of 3:46.25. As a member of the Conference Carolinas championship team, she secured the individual title in the 400 meters after crossing the line with a personal-best time of 58.00 seconds. Moody also earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors in the 4×400 relay and 400m after posting a top-five time in the Southeast Region during the indoor season.

Moody boasts a 3.876 GPA and will be graduating with a double major in biochemistry and biology this May.

The 2022-23 Conference Carolinas Winter Scholar-Athletes of the Year are Women’s Swimming and Diving: Mariel Mencia Martinez, UNC Pembroke and Guillermina Rentsch, Lees-McRae; Men’s Swimming and Diving: Dale Bruce, King; Men’s Indoor Track & Field: Kamden Johnson, Mount Olive; Women’s Indoor Track & Field: Jaiden Moody, Mount Olive; Men’s Basketball: KJ Jones II, Emmanuel and Women’s Basketball: Lauryn Taylor, Francis Marion.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics