Cross Country

Morales, Ornelas Lead St. Mary´s to Third at UTSA Invitational

SAN ANTONIO—Marcey Morales finished 11th overall, while Ariel Ornelas took 15th, helping St. Mary’s University to a third place finish at the Ricardo Romo UTSA Six Flags Fiesta Texas Classic, Friday at Brooks City Base.

Morales (Sr., Lytle) covered the five-kilometer course in 20:46 to cross the line first for the Rattlers. Ornelas (Fr., Arlington) finished 15th in just her second collegiate meet, running a time of 21:13. Amy Crissman (Sr., San Antonio) was the third Rattler finishing, placing 20th in 22:13. Kristyn Mathewson (Fr., Honolulu, Hawaii) finished 31st in 24:15, Katrina White (Jr., San Antonio) was 32nd in 24:55, Alyssa Alfaro (Jr., Eagle Pass) was 42nd in 26:33 and Michelle Tello (Fr., San Antonio) was 44th in 27:18.

Dana Mecke of the University of Texas-San Antonio edged out teammate Kayla Pratt for top individual honors, covering the course in 18:23, less than a second ahead of Pratt. In the team standings UTSA took the title with just 20 points, well ahead of second place Georgia College and State University, which had 59 points. St. Mary’s was third with 95 points, while Texas A&M International University was fourth with 107.

St. Mary’s will return to the course on Friday, Sept. 25, when they travel south to Corpus Christi for the Islander Splash Invitational.

Team Standings: 1. Texas-San Antonio 20, 2. Georgia College and State University 59, 3. St. Mary’s 95, 4. Texas A&M-International 107, 5. Texas A&M-Kingsville 110, 6. Lon Morris 135, 7. Our Lady of the Lake 139.
Individual Standings: 1. Dana Mecke (UTSA) 18:23, 2. Kayla Pratt (UTSA) 18:23, 3. Erica Alvarado (TAMUK) 18:43, 4. Ashley Benes (UTSA) 19:06, 5. Marlene Gutierrez (TAMIU) 19:18.
St. Mary’s Individuals: 11. Marcey Morales 20:46, 15. Ariel Ornales 21:13, 20. Amy Crissman 22:13, 31. Kristyn Mathewson 24:15, 32. Katrina White 24:55, 42. Alyssa Alfaro 26:33, 44. Michelle Tello 27:18.

    

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