Five Trojans earn CSC track and field academic all-district

MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive featured five student-athletes on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Team. Honored were sophomore Vinesha Briggs, sophomore Kiana Hatchett, senior Mary Brigid Keck, senior Jaiden Moody and junior Danielle Trimbur.

The 2023 Academic All-District Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in the athletic realm and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

With this honor, all five individuals are eligible for consideration on the CSC Academic All-American Team that will be announced at the end of the month.

A native of Clayton, Briggs received a pair of USTFCCCA all-region honors after posting the fastest time in the Southeast Region in the 4×400 relay during the indoor and outdoor seasons. She aided the relay team to the conference title in the event at the league championship in Myrtle Beach. In the winter, the 4×400 relay team set the conference and school record with a time of 3:46.25 and was a national qualifier in the event. During the outdoor season, Briggs assisted the 4×400 relay team to a new conference and school record at the First Chance and Multi with a time of 3:45.08. She also competed at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 4×100, which shattered the conference record after crossing the line in 45.69 seconds. She is currently pursuing a degree in exercise science while holding a 3.65 grade point average.

Hatchett, from Ruckersville, Va., competed in three combined events throughout the indoor and outdoor campaign, while setting a personal record in the 60-meter hurdles. In the indoor season, she hit a personal-best mark with a time of 10.19 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles at the Pre-Nationals before placing 10th overall in the triple jump in the league championships. Hatchett also registered a 10th place finish in the triple jump at the Outdoor Conference Championships. She maintains a 3.93 GPA while majoring in exercise science.

A native of Newark, Ohio, Keck was a three-time USTFCCCA all-region honoree this year while claiming an individual title in the hammer throw and shot put during the outdoor season. Additionally, she repeated as a national qualifier in the hammer throw and placed 14th overall at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. During the indoor season, Keck finished first in the Southeast Region with a mark of 17.63 meters in the weight throw while placing in the top three in the shot put and weight throw at the league championships. She also set a new conference and school record with a distance of 58.08 meters in late March in the hammer throw in the outdoor season. Keck was named Field Athlete of the Year for a second straight year. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in business management with a 3.56 GPA and is pursuing her MBA at Mount Olive.

Moody, from Vacaville, Calif., had a decorated senior season with the Trojans after being a national qualifier during both the indoor and outdoor season while also being named the Winter Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the Conference Carolinas. She was a four-time USTFCCCA all-region recipient and a two-time Conference Carolinas Champion in her final year with the program. She hit personal-best records in three different individual events while assisting the Trojans to multiple relay records. A highlight of her season included setting a personal record in the 400 meters at the indoor league championship to capture the individual title with a time of 58 seconds. Moody graduated this May as a double major in biology and biochemistry while maintaining a 3.89 GPA.

A native of Oley, Pa., Trimbur garnered USTFCCCA all-region honors for a third-straight year after pacing the Southeast Region with a toss of 43.37 meters in the javelin. She earned the Conference Carolinas title for the third time in the event and was the only athlete in the region to hit an NCAA provisional mark. Trimbur currently holds a 3.91 GPA while majoring in agricultural education.

To qualify for the academic all-district honors, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically and in athletic eligibility, maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher, and have competed in at least 50 percent of the team’s events. Additionally, each institution is capped at five nominees for the women’s track & field/cross country.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics