Julianna “JuJu” Maxfield (JR, St. Edward, Neb.) could pinpoint several moments where God confirmed her decision to attend Tabor College. With three new medals in hand from the KCAC Indoor Track & Field Championships in February, she could feel the emotional weight of the season. First-year track & field coach Aaron Yoder encouraged her to go before the Lord.
One of those moments was a spring drive on a local country road; Julianna stopped and spent 30 minutes in prayer to release her stress and surrender things on her heart. It was a moment when she truly savored the ability to connect spiritually with coaches and peers.
“I felt so free in that moment,” she said. “Running exposes so much mentally. For me, it’s a space to examine myself in many ways, including my faith, but you don’t realize how much that mental space can hinder your performance. As a team, though, we’re able to encourage one another and we bond through the highs and lows of practice and competition.”
Julianna, the daughter of Jason (g’98) and Jennifer (Fast g’97) Maxfield, has undoubtedly left her mark on cross country and track and field, but also on the community of Hillsboro.
The Nebraska native is now a four-time national qualifier in cross country and indoor track & field. As a junior, she set new indoor school records in the 800M (2:18.79) and was part of a Tabor-best 4x400M relay (4:10.68).
In addition to her studies and athletic training, Julianna has also served as a junior high youth sponsor at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church (HMBC), helping each year with the same group of girls as they progressed through sixth, seventh and eighth grade. That includes a mentoring relationship with Claire Matlock, the daughter of Jeremy and Krista Matlock, HMBC lead pastor and Tabor’s head cheer and dance coach.
“As parents, we are so thrilled to have another godly voice speaking into our daughter’s life,” Jeremy said. “JuJu is faithful, intentional and devoted, and while she excels at so many things, she makes time to meet with Claire weekly and go through a book together. My wife and I wish that every kid had a JuJu.”
On campus, Julianna volunteers as a prayer usher through Share, Prayer & Dare (SP&D), Tabor’s student-led worship night, and meets with three peers weekly to talk and encourage one another spiritually.
Julianna’s journey after Tabor remains to be determined, but she looks forward to seeing how God will use her Bible and elementary education majors.
“Devoting time to meeting with young women like Claire is where I feel so much purpose in life,” she said. “I would love to teach and coach. I feel like this road will offer so many opportunities and I’m excited to see where it takes me.”