Cross Country

Wicketts Finishes Eighth Individually, St. Mary’s Places Third at Heartland Champs

Tara Wicketts finished her Rattler career by placing 8th overall at the Heartland Conference Championships (photo by Derek Smolik).

SAN ANTONIO—Tara Wicketts placed in the top 10 individually for the fourth straight season, helping St. Mary’s University to a third place finish at the 2007 Heartland Conference Cross Country Championships, Saturday night at the San Antonio State School.

Wicketts (Sr., Cibolo) covered the five-kilometer course in a time of 19:20 to finish eighth overall. Just three spots behind her was sophomore Amy Crissman (So., San Antonio), who placed 11th with a time of 19:56. Jesse Smith (Jr., Boerne) placed 15th with a time of 20:25, while Melissa Recio (Jr., Laredo) was 22nd in 21:44 and Katrina White (Fr., San Antonio) was 39th in 23:23. Yesena Bernal (Sr., El Paso) was 43rd in 24:03 and Amanda Benavides (So., San Antonio) was 44th in 24:10.

Overall Yvonne Rodriguez of the University of the Incarnate Word took individual honors, covering the course in a time of 17:56. Second overall was Kaydian Howell of Lincoln University in 18:32. Dallas Baptist University edged out host UIW 39 points to 45 points for the team title. St. Mary’s was third with 95 points, while Lincoln was fourth with 108, Newman University was fifth with 118, the University of Texas-Permian Basin was sixth with 151, Texas A&M International University was seventh with 200 points, St. Edward’s University was eighth with 204 and Oklahoma Panhandle State University was ninth with 238 points.

The performance wraps up the 2007 season for the Rattlers, who placed third in the Heartland for the third time in four years.

    

Coaching Staff

Head Coach Haley Long

Taking on a dual role in her first year on the St. Mary's coaching staff, Haley Long will serve as the Rattlers' head cross country coach and assistant softball coach, leading with experience and high expectations for success.

Long comes into her new coaching roles as a former athlete herself, having enjoyed an extensive softball career dating back to her star-studded career at Brenham High School in her hometown of Brenham, Texas, where she earned First-Team All-State, Academic All-State and helped her team to a state title. The former right fielder then took her play to the collegiate level, playing her freshman year at Blinn College before finishing her career at the University of Nebraska. After slugging away for a .355 batting average, 43 runs scored, five doubles, 33 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and a team-high 10 triples in her sole season at Bilnn, Long became a three-year starter in right field for the University of Nebraska. There, her success led to a Second Team All-Big 12 selection as a sophomore. As a junior competing in the Big 12 championship, Long earned an All-Tournament Team selection. Her three years at the University of Nebraska also gave Long a three-time stint on the Big 12 Commissioners' Honor Roll.

Long completed her bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Nebraska in 2009 and completed her master's degree in kinesiology at the University of Texas-Permian Basin in 2012.

While completing her master's degree, Long took her first step in coaching as one of Blinn College's assistant softball coaches and helped the Buccaneers to a fourth-place national championship finish in 2012. During her two years on the coaching staff, Blinn received the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Midwest Coaching Staff of the Year both years.

With a Division I, Big 12 athletic transcript and an accredited coaching background, Long looks forward to being an asset to St. Mary's softball team and taking the cross country team to new heights.

"I'm excited to see what their expectations are of themselves," says Long of her Rattler runners, "and see how they respond to my expectations for them. My expectations of them are to work hard every day and build a work ethic of a winning mentality. I want them to put themselves on the map and know that they do matter. This is going to become a growing program, and we re going to be expected to win."

Long takes on her head cross country and assistant softball coach position with confidence, priming for two teams of Rattler talent to work with.

"I'm just excited to get started," she said.

2012 St. Mary's Cross Country Roster