How being a Bison shaped the Class of 2026 | Kendall Mariott, women's track and field.
Hearing her name being called as the team's MVP was a moment Kendall Mariott says she'll never forget. The track and field captain was recognized at the 2026 Brown and Gold banquet, the annual year-end event held by Bison Sports to celebrate the success of its student-athletes .
“It was something I never expected, which made it even more special,” says Mariott. “More than anything, the moment made me feel incredibly grateful for my teammates and coaches who supported me throughout my entire journey.”
The award gave her an opportunity to reflect on her time as a Bison student-athlete and the teammates and coaches who supported her journey.
“Track and field can be challenging, and having a team that pushes you, supports you and celebrates your successes alongside you means so much,” says Mariott. “Receiving that award reminded me how lucky I was to be part of such an amazing group of people, and it’s a moment I’ll always carry with me forever.”
Mariott’s time with the program taught her the value of working together as a team.
“One of the biggest lessons I will take away from my time as a Bison is the importance of teamwork and being a good teammate,” she says. “Being part of such a supportive team taught me how important it is to support the people around you and work toward a common goal. My time on the track and field team has shown me what it feels like to be part of something bigger than yourself.”
Being chosen as a team captain in her final year gave her the platform to develop her skills as a leader, including the opportunity to lead the team on her home track as the Bisons hosted the 2026 U SPORTS National Track and Field Championships in March.
“I also feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve as a captain on the team, sats Marriott. “That experience helped me grow as a leader, communicator and teammate. I am more confident, resilient and disciplined because of my Bisons career.”
Mariott is graduating from the I.H Asper School of Business, with a Bachelor of Commerce Honours, where she double majored in Marketing and Human Resource Management. The skills she learned in the classroom and on track at UM prepared her for life after school. Mariott recently launched her career at Special Olympics Manitoba.
“I recently started a position as Marketing and Communications Coordinator, and I already see how much my experience as a Bison has helped prepare me for this role,” she says, “I’m able to combine two things I’m passionate about, sports and marketing.”
“Being a student-athlete helped me develop communication, teamwork, leadership and time management skills that I use every day. It also showed me the positive impact sport can have on people’s lives, which makes this work especially meaningful to me.”
UM Bisons are at the centre of it all, making a difference here in Manitoba and around the world. Many graduates recognized at Convocation will stay in Manitoba, supplying high-demand skills to the labour market and contributing to UM’s economic impact on our community.
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