KIRKLAND, WA - Josiah Jaquith and Elizabeth Behnke have been nominated as 2025 Northwest University Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year. 

On two separate ends of their school careers, the two cross-country and track & field student-athletes had stellar performances during the school year. Freshman Josiah Jaquith set an unprecedented impact on the team in his first year. Jaquith's accomplishments include two CCC All-Conference award wins, a first-place finish in the PLU Open, a smashing of a 3k steeplechase record that stood for over 20 years, a second-place finish at the CCC championships, and earned All-American at the NAIA championships in the steeplechase. 

Senior and team captain Lizzy Behnke set the standard as a leader for the team both on and off the track. In Behnke's final season, she broke multiple school records including the indoor 60m dash at the Whitworth Invitational, the 200m dash at the PLU Invitational, and the 100m dash at the CCC championships. She also accomplished fifth at the CCC championships in the 100m and was a two-time Daktronic NAIA Scholar-Athlete winner in the fall and spring. 

Behnke will retire from Northwest athletics, but she will pass the torch to student-athletes like Jaquith who will lead the team into a new age of success. 

"Northwest has so many amazing student-athletes who represent Christ and the NU community at a high level, so being selected for this award is a huge honor for both," said Head Coach Mark Mandi. "They both went out there each day and put forth their best effort with a fantastic attitude. No doubt, this was definitely a special year for them. Josiah, a freshman this year, made history by breaking a school record, competing in two national championships, and earning All-American honors. Lizzy broke multiple school records in the short sprints, all while earning her nursing degree and serving as a team captain. I'm so proud of them both."