Cross Country

Smith Leads St. Mary´s to Four Place at Incarnate Word Invitational

Jessie Smith (left) was the top finisher for St. Mary's in the first cross country meet of the season at Incarnate Wordr (photo by Derek Smolik, St. Mary's Sports Information).

SAN ANTONIO—Jesse Smith finished eighth overall in a time of 20:55 to lead St. Mary's University to a fourth place finish as a team at the University of the Incarnate Word Relays, Saturday morning at Live Oak City Park.

Smith (Sr., Boerne) covered the five-kilometer course in a time of 20:55, her second best five-kilometer time as a Rattler. Emily Loeffler of Trinity University took top honors, edging out teammate Liz Eder, with both athletes finishing with a time of 19:46. Amy Crissman (Jr., San Antonio) finished 11th overall with a time of 21:46, Melissa Recio (Sr., Laredo) was 27th in 24:15, Katrina White (So., San Antonio) was 37th in 25:50 and Amanda Benavides (Sr., San Antonio) was 42nd in 28:25.

In the team standings Trinity won the title, taking the top four individual spots on their way to a 23-point showing. Host University of the Incarnate Word was second with 53 points, St. Edward’s University was third with 120 points, St. Mary’s was fourth with 123 points and Southwestern University was fifth with 132.

The Rattlers will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 6, when they travel to San Marcos to compete in the Texas State Invitational at 8:30 a.m.

    

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