SACRAMENTO, Calif. – It was the perfect ending for Nicole Mendoza to be finishing her career where it began in her hometown.

A 2009 graduate of St. Francis, Mendoza competed as a fifth-year senior for UC Irvine at the NCAA West Regionals hosted by Sacramento State on Friday at Haggin Oaks.

“It was awesome,” said Mendoza. “All of my old coaches are here. My family is here. It has been really great to run here for my last race.”

Mendoza finished in 23:08 to cross the line 208th overall in the race. She ran for St. Francis from 2006-09. At the time of her graduation, she had recorded four of the top five finishes by time at the state meet in school history including a personal-best 18:33 to finish 24th overall in 2008.

“It went ok,” said Mendoza, who finished 39th at the Big West Conference meet on Nov. 2. “I am happy to be here because I sprained my ankle earlier in the season. I really did not get back until two weeks before conference. I was just hoping to make the regional meet and race here for my last race of cross country.”

While her running career might be coming to an end, she is just getting started on the rest of her career. She graduated last year with a degree in biomedical engineering and she is currently in graduate school.

Mendoza has lots of memories of her time as a Troubie but her favorites are the team events.

“My favorite memory from St. Francis is probably traveling with the team to events like Mt. Sac,” said Mendoza. “I really enjoyed the experience of running races down in southern California and going to Disneyland with the team. My experiences with the team were my favorite.”

She is in graduate school and is currently pursuing her PhD in biomedical engineering.

“She was a delight to coach,” said John DuCray, who is in his 37th season at St. Francis. “If I had to start a team of seven girls from all my years coaching, she would be on it.”