UND athletics hands out annual awards at Night of Champions event
May 8—GRAND FORKS — UND runner Jadyn Keeler took home two of the highest honors Thursday night at the annual Night of Champions event at the Empire Arts Center. Keeler was named the Grace Rhonemus Female Athlete of the Year and the Best Individual Performance during the event, which highlighted the 2025-26 UND athletics season. Keeler became an All-American in cross country and track and field, while repeating as the Summit League's indoor distance triple crown champion.
She has shattered six track school records this season and is the reigning Summit League cross country, indoor and outdoor track female athlete of the year. Keeler led UND to the Summit League cross country championship this fall — the school's first Summit title. She won the individual championship in the event.
Keeler won the mile, 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters at the Summit Indoor Championships. She became the first Summit athlete to win Summit MVP honors in back-to-back seasons. UND hockey's Jake Livanavage was awarded the Red Jarrett Male Athlete of the Year.
Livanavage earned All-America honors for the second-straight year. He finished his career with 82 points. Last month, he debuted in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Eli King of men's basketball received the honor of play of the year for his performance in a win over St. Thomas. Trailing 80-79 with 10 seconds to go, King stole an inbounds pass in the backcourt and quickly scored, then challenged a final shot from St.