Few athletes in NCAA Division II history have put together a more dominant two-year stretch than Melissa (Agnew) Blanchard did for the University of Mary from 2012 to 2013. A standout in both cross country and track & field, Blanchard’s extraordinary career was defined by a rare combination of consistency, versatility, and championship-level performance.
Over the course of her time as a Marauder, Blanchard earned 12 NCAA All-America honors and captured three national titles. Her senior year in 2013 stands out as one of the most decorated in school and NSIC history. She helped deliver the University of Mary’s first-ever NCAA Division II national title as part of the Distance Medley Relay (DMR), then went on to win individual national championships in the indoor mile and the outdoor 1500-meter run.
Blanchard became the first woman in NSIC history to win three consecutive 1,000-meter titles indoors and claimed a total of nine NSIC championships during her career—eight in track & field and one in cross country (2012). A 13-time All-NSIC honoree, she was a dominant force in the conference and was named NSIC and USTFCCCA Central Region Track & Field Athlete of the Year three times.
Her impact extended well beyond the competition. Blanchard was a nine-time NSIC All-Academic Team selection, an eight-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree, and recipient of the prestigious NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award. In recognition of her historic achievements, she was named the 2013 NDAPSSA Female Athlete of the Year.
Blanchard’s legacy was cemented in 2020 when she was inducted into the USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Track & Field Athlete Hall of Fame—one of the highest honors in collegiate track & field.
Blanchard owns Imperial Family Chiropractic in Farmington, Minnesota, where she works as a chiropractor. She and her husband Cory are proud parents of Danielle and Julie.