Talladega College freshman cross country standout Mary Rodriguez has been named the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Runner and Freshman of the Week for her outstanding performance during the week of September 8–14, the league office announced Tuesday.

Rodriguez delivered a personal-best time of 21:56 in the five-kilometer race at the Southern Showcase, a performance that not only led the conference but also came while competing against a competitive field that included numerous NCAA Division I athletes.
 

A native of Orlando, Florida, and a graduate of Southlake High School, Rodriguez is pursuing a degree in psychology at Talladega College. Her favorite race is the 1600-meter, and she cites her love of the feeling of winning as her inspiration to run.
 

Talladega College Head Cross Country Coach Terry Gaitor praised Rodriguez's achievement, stating:"We are really proud of Mary. She has embodied what we feel is the ideal student for our program. This is just the first of many."

Rodriguez's recognition marks a promising start to her collegiate career and highlights the strength of Talladega's women's cross country program.
 

The Tornadoes will return to action this Saturday when they compete at the University of Tennessee Southern.