March 6, 2012
SAN MARCOS, Texas – After making a statement in her first meet as a Rattler earlier this season by winning first place overall as well as earning the Heartland Conference Runner of the Week, Jessica Waninger did it again.
Waninger (Jr., Santa Claus, Ind.) sprinted ahead of the pack to be the first to cross the finish line this past weekend, winning first place female overall in the Moe’s Better Half Marathon. Starting out in first was St. Mary’s, starting its spring season with not only Waninger taking first place but also the team as a whole.
Freshman Allison Manning (Mansfield, Texas) appears to have broken in her Rattler running shoes, achieving first place in her age group. Newcomer Olivia Lara (Fr., El Paso, Texas) also wore the Rattler jersey proudly, finishing in second place for her age group.
Waninger, Manning, Lara and the rest of the Rattlers competing in the 13.1-mile race to the finish had a standout performance with the entire St. Mary’s team completing the half marathon in less than two hours and 30 minutes.
Starting off on the right foot, the St. Mary’s cross county team had a successful season start that will ideally hold the same stamina as the Rattlers did last weekend for the rest of the season.