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Hess, the daughter of Barb and Dave Hess of Paynesville, placed 15th for the Gophers at the Big Ten Outdoor Championship at Michigan St. in May. Her time was 36:35.07. Her time was a minute faster than last year, when she placed 14th in 37:48.20.

Jen Hess, a 2002 PAHS grad, ran cross country and track at the University of Minnesota, finishing her career there this spring.

Teammates Lauren Williams and Harper McConnell placed 11th and 14th in the race respectively.

The Gophers won their first-ever outdoor conference track title this year, outscoring Michigan 152.5-134.67. Penn St. was third (115.0).

Last fall, Hess helped the Gophers women's cross country team place ninth in the NCAA meet. The Gophers women's track team had a school-record nine members compete in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June and finished 19th, which was one spot below the school's best-ever finish (18th in 1990 and 1991).

Hess, a 2002 PAHS grad, won Class A cross country titles in 2000 and 2001 for the Bulldogs and also won the 3,200-meter title in track her senior year (2002). She is a cultural studies major.