McKendree University Women's Cross Country

Mendez Head Coach Coach Mendez enters his fifth year at the helm of the cross country and track and field programs for both the mens and womens teams. Over the last four years, the program has set and broken over ten school records, garnered 80 GLVC All-Conference athletes, 34 GLVC Champions, 20 Midwest All-Region recipients, 20 NCAA National Qualifiers, and four NCAA All-Americans. Throughout his tenure student athletes have also accumulated 10 GLVC Athlete of the week and four GLVC Athlete of the Year awards. Each of the programs have also accumulated many academic accolades. The teams have tallied seven GLVC All-Academic Team Awards, 137 GLVC Academic All-Conference Individual selections, four GLVC Council of Presidents Academic Excellence Award recipients, 11 All-Academic awarded individuals, and two All-Academic teams. In the fall of 2012, Mendez set out to establish a premier Division II program as McKendree became full active members of the NCAA in 2013. In four years, the programs have grown to almost 90 athletes targeting both local and out of state recruits. The cross country and track and field programs look to establish themselves in the 2016-2017 season amongst the top programs in the GLVC and begin the quest to become a reputable program amongst the Division II national ranks. A native of Plainfield, Illinois, Mendez was an accomplished Track and Cross Country athlete in both high school and as a McKendree student athlete. In his four years at McKendree he helped the Bearcats establish two school records, a 4th-place team finish at the 2007 Track and Field Outdoor NAIA National Championships, 8th-place team finish at the 2009 Cross Country NAIA National Championships, and the conference triple-crown in 2010 (Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track). Mendez was a 4-time All-Conference performer in Cross Country, 2-time NAIA Academic All-American, a 5-time NAIA All-American, and 2-time NAIA National Champion. Mendez coaches events including the 400 meter through the 10k, Jumps, Multis, and the Javelin for the Bearcats.   Mendez currently resides in Lebanon, Illinois and still competes in both running and triathlon events.       Michael Mendez

Inyart recently graduated from McKendree after a stellar senior season where she ended her career at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in the spring of 2015. Primarly a distance runner, Inyart looks to build on her experience as a leader and her successful background competing by transitioning into a coaching role this fall. Inyart etched her name in the record books  after breaking long-time marks held by Sarah Korir in both the 1500m and 10,000m as well as helping the distance medley relay break the previously standing mark. Her times of 4:38.48 and 35:28.16 would place her among the top 6 in the GLVC to which her 10,000m effort qualified her to the NCAA championships. Inyart also accumulated two All-Academic awards in her senior season, was a six-time GLVC All-Conference recipient, and earned the Council of Presidents Academic Excellence Award.   Inyart continues to train and race for the Lebanon Project, a new post-collegiate running club located in Lebanon, IL while residing in Belleville, IL.