2012 — Indoor – placed seventh in 3,000 meters (9:29.71) and 11th in 5,000 meters (16:51.53) at Big Ten Championships… both times were collegiate bests and the 3,000-meter time ranks ninth all-time at Iowa… placed third in mile at New Year’s Classic (4:52.33) and fourth at Adidas Classic (4:57.92)… placed fourth in 3,000 meters at Iowa State Classic (9:33.76)… Outdoor – led team in 3,000 (9:21.59), 5,000 (15:57.13) and 10,000 meters (34:29.83)… Big Ten 5,000-meter champion (16:14.03), placing second in 10,000 meters with a collegiate-best 34:29.83… the 10,000-meter time ranks seventh all-time at Iowa… placed second in her section with a collegiate-best 5,000 meters (15:57.13) at LSU Invite, which ranks second all-time at Iowa… placed 12th in 5,000 meters at NCAA West Preliminary (16:26.06) and 14th at NCAA Championships (16:44.78)… won 3,000 meters with a collegiate-best and meet record-setting 9:21.59 at Musco Twilight XIII… that time ranks third all-time at Iowa… placed third with a collegiate-best 1,500 meters (4:20.22) at Drake Relays, which ranks fourth all-time at Iowa… anchored team-leading and Drake Relays champion 6,400-meter relay (19:16.73)… that time ranks third all-time at Iowa… Capital One Track & Field Academic All-District honoree… Iowa’s Big Ten Medal of Honor winner… academic All-Big Ten… letterwinner.
2011 — Indoor – set school mile record (4:39.78) at Notre Dame Last Chance Meet to earn spot at NCAA Championships… second team All-American, placing 15th in mile (4:49.21) at NCAA Championships… placed eighth in mile (4:46.09) at Big Ten Championships… ran lead leg on team-leading distance medley relay that placed third at Big Ten Championships (11:22.44)… that time ranks second all-time at Iowa… placed fifth in mile (4:42.54) at Iowa State Classic… Outdoor – led team in 1,500 meters (4:21.35)… placed sixth in 5,000 meters (16:28.47) and eighth in 1,500 meters (4:29.65) at Big Ten Championships… the 5,000-meter time qualified for NCAA West Regional… placed third in 3,000 meters at Musco Twilight XII (9:34.13)… placed fourth in 1,500 meters (4:21.35) at Drake Relays… placed fifth in 5,000 meters at Stanford Invite (16:30.63) and 30th at NCAA West Regional (16:49.47)… ran third leg on team-leading 6,400-meter relay that placed second at Drake Relays in 19:17.52, which ranks fourth all-time at Iowa… academic All-Big Ten… letterwinner… Cross Country – all-region honoree, placing 11th at NCAA Midwest Regional (21:17-6,000 meters)… earned All-Big Ten honors, placing 13th with a collegiate-best 20:41 (6,000 meters) at Big Ten Championships… that time ranks sixth all-time at Iowa… Iowa’s top finisher at Adidas Invite, placing 44th in 20:51 (6,000 meters)… placed sixth at Loyola Lakefront Invite (17:37-5,000 meters)… academic All-Big Ten… team earned USTFCCCA all-academic honors… letterwinner.
2010 — Indoor – anchored provisional qualifying distance medley that placed third at Big Ten Championships (11:25.01)… that time ranks fifth all-time at Iowa… ran season-best mile at Big Ten meet (4:47.17)… Outdoor – ran second leg on school-record setting 6,400-meter relay at Drake Relays (19:05.63)… ran season-best 1,500 meters at Big Ten meet (4:21.18)… ran second leg on team-leading 3,200-meter relay (8:54.45), which ranks seventh all-time at Iowa… competed in 1,500 meters at NCAA West Regional (27th, 4:26.94)… ran collegiate-best 800 meters at CCU Shamrock (2:13.18)… ran season-best 5,000 meters at Stanford Invite (16:42.79)… won 1,500 meters at Musco Twilight XI (4:28.77)… academic All-Big Ten… letterwinner… Cross Country – placed fifth at Iowa Invite (10:26-3,000 meters) and 27th at NCAA Regioanl (20:56-6,000 meters) with season best times… placed 34th at Big Ten Championships (21:14-6,000 meters) and sixth at Hawkeye Invite (10:38-3,000 meters)… also rank at Notre Dame Invite (18:05-5,000 meters) and Pre NCAA Invite (21:22-6,000 meters)… academic All-Big Ten… team earned USTFCCCA all-academic honors… letterwinner.
2009 — Indoor – ran lead leg on team-leading distance medley relay that placed third in 11:27.34 at Big Ten Championships to provisional qualify for NCAA meet… that relay time ranks sixth all-time at Iowa… ran season bests in mile (4:51.76) at Iowa State Classic and 3,000 meters (9.55.53) at Meyo Invite… Outdoor – placed seventh in 1,500 meters (4:30.83) at NCAA Midwest Regional to earn all-region honors… placed ninth in 1,500 meters at Big Ten meet (4:27.36), running a regional qualifying 4:26.99 in the prelims… ran second leg on team-leading 6,400-meter (19:36.43) relay that placed third at Drake Relays… that relay time ranks fifth in school history… ran 800 meters (2:14.90) at Illinois Invite… USTFCCCA all-academic team honoree… letterwinner… Cross Country – ran at Wisconsin Adidas Invite (18:07)… academic all-Big Ten… team earned USTFCCCA all-academic honors… letterwinner.
2008 — Cross Country – ran season bests in 3,000 meters (10:56) at Hawkeye Invite, 5,000 meters (17:45) at Auburn Invite and 6,000 meters (22:57) at Big Ten Championships… team earned USTFCCCA all-academic honors… letterwinner.
High School — cross country conference champion as a junior, winning regional title as a sophomore… placed third at state cross country meet junior year… ran on third-place 3,200-meter relay at state meet senior year, placing second in 1,600 and 3,200 meters as a junior… team won state title senior year… eight-time all-conference and five-time all-state in cross country and track… set school records in 1,600 meters (4:59.25), 3,200 meters (10:52.32) and cross country 4,000 meters (14:28)… five-time academic all-state… three-time most valuable distance runner on track team and two-time cross country team MVP… two-year letterwinner in ice hockey… four-year academic letterwinner… graduated with high honors, as an AP scholar… 2008 Wendy’s High School Heisman award winner… National Honor Society member… coach was Jorjean Fischer.
Personal — daughter of Mark and DeeDee Melander… speech and hearing science major.
Melander’s Collegiate Bests
| Event | Time | Meet | Date |
| 800 Meters (O) | 2:13.18 | at Shamrock Invitational | 3/20/10 |
| 1,500 Meters (O) | 4:20.22 | at Drake Relays | 4/28/12 |
| Mile (I) | 4:39.78 | at Notre Dame Last Chance | 3/5/11 |
| 3,000 Meters (I) | 9:29.71 | at Big Ten Championships | 2/24/12 |
| 3,000 Meters (O) | 9:21.59 | Musco Twilight XIII | 4/21/12 |
| 3,000 Meters (CC) | 10:26 | Iowa Invitational | 9/18/10 |
| 5,000 Meters (I) | 16:51.53 | at Big Ten Championships | 2/25/12 |
| 5,000 Meters (O) | 15:57.13 | at LSU Invitational | 4/7/12 |
| 5,000 Meters (CC) | 17:37 | at Loyola Lakefront Invite | 10/1/11 |
| 6,000 Meters (CC) | 20:41 | at Big Ten Championships | 10/30/11 |
| 10,000 Meters (O) | 34:29.83 | at Big Ten Championships | 5/11/12 |