OLLU sprinter Jalen Bell and softball star Cassandra Valdez have captured the 2023-2024 Big Blue Top Saints awards as Male and Female Athletes of the Year.
Bell qualified for the Outdoor NAIA National Track and Field Championships in the 4x100m relay, 100m, and the 200m. He received NAIA All-American Honors in the 4x400m relay indoors. He is nationally ranked in both the 200m and in the relay. Bell also broke several records, including the 200m indoor, the 4x400m relay indoor, and the 200m outdoor. Bell has received many Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Track Athlete of the Week awards and is a three-time RRAC Scholar-Athlete. In addition to his accomplishments on the track, Bell earned a 3.56 GPA. Bell is a junior majoring in Mass Communication.
Valdez led the OLLU softball team to the 2024 RRAC Regular-Season title and a Runners Up finish in the postseason tournament. Valdez won her third RRAC Pitcher of the Year Award and was named to the All-Conference First Team three years in a row. She also received All-Tournament honors. Valdez holds many records, including the all-time record in triples, home runs, strikeouts (as a pitcher), wins and shutouts. This year, she received eight RRAC Pitcher of the Week awards. Valdez is a three-time RRAC Scholar-Athlete and earned a 3.57 as an undergrad and 3.5 as a graduate student. She is majoring in Visual and New Media Arts.
