Despite posting their fastest individual times of the season, the Bulldogs' girls' cross country team finished fourth out of nine teams at a meet at Sauk Centre on Tuesday, Oct. 3.The Bulldogs were led by junior Jenny Hess, one of three runners to ear medals for Paynesville. Seventh grader Brooke Schmitz (pictured at left) was eighth, and eighth grader Kim Hess was 12th to earn medals as well.
All seven varsity runners posted their best times of the season over the relatively flat course at the Sauk Centre Country Club. "They ran well," said coach Darrel Carstens of his team. "It's that time of year when you want to see that," he added.
Jenny Hess blistered the 4,000-meter course in 14:32, which is not only her best time of the season, but a personal best. She won her seventh consecutive race of the season and is the top rated runner in Class A in the state.
Hess' margin of victory was nearly a half minute ahead of a pack of New London-Spicer runners. The Wildcats took the second through fifth spots and won the meet with a total of 33.
Schmitz ran her personal best time of 15:36. It was the second time she completed a race under 16 minutes and was 21 seconds faster than her previous best time.
Kim Hess nearly broke the 16-minute barrier with a time of 16:01. That is her season's best time by 47 seconds.
While not earning medals, the other four members of the varsity squad all ran their fastest times of the season to help the Bulldogs finish fourth as a team.
Trisha Wendlandt trimmed 22 seconds off her best time and finished 40th in 18:08. Mesa Frenchick beat her seasonŐs best by 24 seconds in finishing 44th in 18:54.
Mellody Veldkamp finished 47th in 20:13.
Team standings
1. New London-Spicer -33
2. Sauk Centre -51
3. Wadena-deer Creek -73
4. Paynesville -105
5. Minnewaska -117
6. Staples-Motley -151
7. LPGE -176
BBE -Inc.
St. Cloud Apollo -Inc.
Individual results
1. Jenny Hess -14:32
8. Brooke Schmitz -15:36
12. Kim hess -16:01
40. Trisha Wendlant -18:08
44. Mesa Frenchick -18:54
47 Mellody Veldkamp -20:13