A degree in health science is on the agenda for the year 13 pupil but that can change. She'd like to do medicine but the academic demands may curtail her running ambitions that include representing New Zealand in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 and the Summer Olympics, if she's good enough.
"Health science is hard enough but not as difficult as medicine so I can always come back to medicine."
Her coach, Sheila Smidt, who is also her PE teacher at NGHS, had an inkling Manning has what it takes to become an elite runner when she spotted her running in year 10.
It goes without saying not many would have persisted with the teenager.
Reveals Manning: "I was actually pretty bad. I finished 50th at the New Zealand crosscountry.
"I don't think even Ms Smidt thought I was talented," she says.
The teenager marvels at her teacher's ability to scrutinise the entire muster in year 9 and not treat the stragglers "as those who suck".
Smidt has coached Manning since then and is proud of her work ethic and dedication.
"She has been the most reliable, committed distance runner I have ever coached in 37 years.
"We started the journey in 2010 and it will end when Holly goes to the United States in August next year but I will watch her progress very closely," says the teacher who visited the Stonybrook University on a board scholarship in 2012 and endorses the institution's coaching staff and programme.
Manning sees the benefits in leaving her comfort zone.
"You're surrounded by common interests and other social interests. The competition is so much better."
While she is not in the same league as New Zealand's world-class 800m runner Angie Smit, Manning knows by going to the US she'll be in elite company who will push her to gnaw away at her under-20 time of 2m 09.2s.
Smit holds the New Zealand Secondary Schools record of 2:08.01 but it remains to be seen if Manning will eclipse that at the schools' nationals in Wanganui on December 6-7.
"I'm always an underdog because I come from the provinces but I like it because it takes the pressure off me," says the youngster who this season upstaged the top-ranked 400m and 800m runners in her grade.
She also recorded a PB of 57.14s in 400m at a Central League meeting at Palmerston North on November 8.
Born in Bromley, London, Manning arrived in New Zealand with her family when she was a toddler.
She flirted with athletics and crosscountry at Napier Intermediate School but her first taste of success came in the NGHS year 9 road race-winning, six-person team at the schools' crosscountry nationals.
Incrementally Manning's stature grew with a 10th at the school champs in Ashburton in June 2011. The 800m race beckoned at the Reading Cup/Lydiard Shield secondary schools' meeting in October. She cemented her love of the distance in 2012.
The code also recognises Manning's leadership qualities, so much so that she was appointed the girls' captain at the Oceania Athletics Championship in Rarotonga in June this year.
She suspects it's a result of the impression she left on Jess Sloan, of Hamilton, who was involved in her other age-group squads.
"The marshalling tent makes me more relaxed before races," she explains, emphasising the need for individuals to build a rapport for a solid team foundation.
That Manning is a prefect at NGHS also is an affirmation of her leadership qualities.
Working into a good part of next year is on Manning's agenda to save money. Starting at the family icecream business along Marine Parade will help.
So will the annual Sylvia Potts Memorial Classic where this January $250 is up for grabs to the best Bay runner in a field that will also attract defending champion Smit and Australians.
"I finished ninth there last year because I had spent a week in Mahia and didn't train."
