2023-24 Women's Cross Country Roster
Katherine Hessler
- Class:
- Senior
- High School:
- East Grand Rapids
- Hometown:
- Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Major:
- Post Baccalaureate
Bio
AWARDS AND HONORS:
2024-25: (Cross Country): Appeared in six meets, scoring in two of them ... Ran 21:25.3 (28th) at the Big Ten Preview (9/13) ... Shaved just over seconds off that time at the Bradley Pink Classic (10/18), where she placed 19th in 20:49.7 ... Turned in top 6k effort of the season at the Big Ten Championships (11/1), crossing in 20:28.9 to finish 63rd overall ... Took 30th (20:36.0) at the NCAA Midwest Regional (11/15). (Indoor): Opened indoor campaign at the UW Preview (1/17), placing 33rd (9:48.07) in teh 3,000m run ... Took home third (16:54.63) in the 5,000m run at the Midwest Classic (1/31) ... Moved to sixth all-time at Northwestern in the 3,000m run at the Blue Demon Alumni Classic (2/8), finishing in 9:34.54 to place sixth overall ... Closed indoor season with another personal-best performance at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational (2/15), ascending to fifth on the 5,000m run record board following an effort of 16:30.55 (70th). (Outdoor): Did not compete.
2023-24: (Cross Country): Scored in all five cross country meets she saw action in ... United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Midwest Region selection ... First Team All-Big Ten Conference pick ... Took ninth (18:20.8) in first appearance of 2023 at the Badger Classic (9/9) ... Ran 5k personal-best 17:04.3 (45th) at the Virginia Invitational (9/23) ... Clocked top 6k time of her career at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, racing through in 20:12.9 en route to placing 16th ... Led the way for the Wildcats at the Big Ten Championships (10/27), placing fifth overall in 21:10.0 ... Secured All-Region honors following a 13th-place showing (20:47.6) at the NCAA Midwest Regional (11/10). (Indoor): Made two appearances in the 3,000m run during the indoor season ... Finished 53rd (9:59.02) at the UW Invitational (1/26) ... Ran 9:58.25 (151st) at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational (2/9). (Outdoor): Competed exclusively in the 5,000m run ... Posted a time of 16:45.44 (71st) at the Raleigh Relays (3/28) ... Placed seventh (17:27.49) at the Gary Weineke Memorial ... Ran personal-best 16:41.26 (28th) at the Penn Relays ... College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District ... USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
2022-23: (Cross Country): Finished 19th at the Big Ten Preview to open cross country season (9/9) ... Placed 25th at the Gans Creek Classic, helping the 'Cats to a third-place team finish (9/30) ... Ran a PB 20:58.7 6k at the Bradley Pink Classic, earning her a 29th place finish (10/14) ... Finished with a 21:33.1 time at the Big Ten Championships, helping the 'Cats to a fifth-place team finish (10/28) ... Ran to a 45th-place finish at the Midwest Regional with a 21:04.2 6k (11/11) ... Finished third among Wildcats at the NCAA Championships with a time of 21:05.9 (11/19). (Indoor): PB'd in the mile run at the Bob Eubanks Open to finish first with a time of 4:58.23 (1/14) ... Finished second in the 3,000m run at Blue Demon Classic (1/20) ... Ran a personal best 16:56.63 in the 5,000m at the Boston University Valentine Invite (2/10) ... Finished first in the 3,000m at the Margaret Bradley Invitational with a personal-best 9:48.82 (2/18). (Outdoor): Won the 5,000m run at the Illini Challenge with a time of 17:02.42 to open her outdoor season (4/8)... Won the Women's 5000m at the Illini Challenge with a time of 17:02.42 (4/8); finished 1st overall in the 5000m at the Drake Relays (4/27); Won the 3000m with a 10:13.02 at the NIU Huskie May Classic (5/6).
2021-22: (Cross Country): Placed 26th at the Hawkeye Invitational 4km, recording a time of 14:45.3 (9/3) ... Recorded a 6km time of 22:35.5 at the ISU Redbird Invitational (9/17) ... Placed 33rd at the Joe Paine Invitational with a 5km time of 18:19.1 (10/1) ... Recorded a 6km time of 22:25.9 at the PSU National Open (10/15) ... Placed 92nd at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships, recording a 6km time of 22:48.7 (10/29). (Indoor): Recorded a time of 10:43.72 in the 3000m at the 2022 Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic (1/28) ... Placed 9th at the St. Valentines Open in the 3000m with a time of 10:17.12 (2/18). (Outdoor): Placed 5th in the 5000m at the Illini Classic, recording a time of 17:15.51 (4/9) ... Placed 8th in the 5000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational, recording a time of 17:20.09 (4/14) ... Recorded a PB time of 17:15.11 in the 5000m at Drake Relays (4/28).
2020-21: (Cross Country): Competed in her first race for the Wildcats with a 6000M time of 22:12.8 at the Big Ten Championship (1/30). (Indoor):Clocked a time of 18:02.65 in the 5000M at the Hawkeye B1G Invitational (2/13). (Outdoor): Opened collegiate outdoor career in the 5000m at the Big Ten Invite #1, recording a time of 17:20.64 and placing 2nd (2/12) ... Recorded a 5000m time of 17:38.48 at the Big Ten Invite #2 (4/9) ... Recorded a PB time of 10:04.60 in the 3000m at the Wisconsin B1G Invitational (5/8).
WHY NORTHWESTERN?
I chose Northwestern in order to challenge myself both academically and athletically.
GET TO KNOW KATHERINE OFF THE COURSE:
What are you studying? Any career goals? I am majoring in English and Global Health Studies. I plan to go to law school after graduating from Northwestern.
What do you love most about Northwestern Cross Country? I love the people who I run alongside, and their passion for the sport.
Favorite memory of Northwestern Cross Country? I enjoyed racing in California in the spring of 2022.
What do you love about running? I love watching myself progress as a person and athlete.
What hobbies do you enjoy? I assist the Northwestern Prison Education Partnership with their work, and I write poetry.
- USTFCCCA Midwest All-Region (2023)
- First Team All-Big Ten (2023)
- College Sports Communicators Academic All-District (2023)
- USTFCCCA All-Academic Team (2023)
- 4x Academic All-Big Ten (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
| PB’s | TIME | DATE |
| 4k (XC) | 14:45.3 | 9/3/21 (Hawkeye Invitational) |
| 5k (XC) | 17:04.3 | 9/23/23 (Virginia Invitational) |
| 6k (XC) | 20:12.8 | 9/29/23 (Loyola Lakefront Invitational) |
| Mile (Indoor) | 4:58.23 | 1/14/23 (Bob Eubanks Open) |
| 3,000m (Indoor) | 9:34.54 | 2/8/25 (Blue Demon Alumni Classic) |
| 5,000m (Indoor) | 16:30.55 | 2/15/23 (David Hemery Valentine Invitational) |
| 3,000m (Outdoor) | 10:04.60 | 5/8/21 (Wisconsin B1G Invitational) |
| 5,000m (Outdoor) | 16:41.26 | 4/25/24 (Penn Relays) |
2024-25: (Cross Country): Appeared in six meets, scoring in two of them ... Ran 21:25.3 (28th) at the Big Ten Preview (9/13) ... Shaved just over seconds off that time at the Bradley Pink Classic (10/18), where she placed 19th in 20:49.7 ... Turned in top 6k effort of the season at the Big Ten Championships (11/1), crossing in 20:28.9 to finish 63rd overall ... Took 30th (20:36.0) at the NCAA Midwest Regional (11/15). (Indoor): Opened indoor campaign at the UW Preview (1/17), placing 33rd (9:48.07) in teh 3,000m run ... Took home third (16:54.63) in the 5,000m run at the Midwest Classic (1/31) ... Moved to sixth all-time at Northwestern in the 3,000m run at the Blue Demon Alumni Classic (2/8), finishing in 9:34.54 to place sixth overall ... Closed indoor season with another personal-best performance at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational (2/15), ascending to fifth on the 5,000m run record board following an effort of 16:30.55 (70th). (Outdoor): Did not compete.
2023-24: (Cross Country): Scored in all five cross country meets she saw action in ... United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Midwest Region selection ... First Team All-Big Ten Conference pick ... Took ninth (18:20.8) in first appearance of 2023 at the Badger Classic (9/9) ... Ran 5k personal-best 17:04.3 (45th) at the Virginia Invitational (9/23) ... Clocked top 6k time of her career at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, racing through in 20:12.9 en route to placing 16th ... Led the way for the Wildcats at the Big Ten Championships (10/27), placing fifth overall in 21:10.0 ... Secured All-Region honors following a 13th-place showing (20:47.6) at the NCAA Midwest Regional (11/10). (Indoor): Made two appearances in the 3,000m run during the indoor season ... Finished 53rd (9:59.02) at the UW Invitational (1/26) ... Ran 9:58.25 (151st) at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational (2/9). (Outdoor): Competed exclusively in the 5,000m run ... Posted a time of 16:45.44 (71st) at the Raleigh Relays (3/28) ... Placed seventh (17:27.49) at the Gary Weineke Memorial ... Ran personal-best 16:41.26 (28th) at the Penn Relays ... College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District ... USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
2022-23: (Cross Country): Finished 19th at the Big Ten Preview to open cross country season (9/9) ... Placed 25th at the Gans Creek Classic, helping the 'Cats to a third-place team finish (9/30) ... Ran a PB 20:58.7 6k at the Bradley Pink Classic, earning her a 29th place finish (10/14) ... Finished with a 21:33.1 time at the Big Ten Championships, helping the 'Cats to a fifth-place team finish (10/28) ... Ran to a 45th-place finish at the Midwest Regional with a 21:04.2 6k (11/11) ... Finished third among Wildcats at the NCAA Championships with a time of 21:05.9 (11/19). (Indoor): PB'd in the mile run at the Bob Eubanks Open to finish first with a time of 4:58.23 (1/14) ... Finished second in the 3,000m run at Blue Demon Classic (1/20) ... Ran a personal best 16:56.63 in the 5,000m at the Boston University Valentine Invite (2/10) ... Finished first in the 3,000m at the Margaret Bradley Invitational with a personal-best 9:48.82 (2/18). (Outdoor): Won the 5,000m run at the Illini Challenge with a time of 17:02.42 to open her outdoor season (4/8)... Won the Women's 5000m at the Illini Challenge with a time of 17:02.42 (4/8); finished 1st overall in the 5000m at the Drake Relays (4/27); Won the 3000m with a 10:13.02 at the NIU Huskie May Classic (5/6).
2021-22: (Cross Country): Placed 26th at the Hawkeye Invitational 4km, recording a time of 14:45.3 (9/3) ... Recorded a 6km time of 22:35.5 at the ISU Redbird Invitational (9/17) ... Placed 33rd at the Joe Paine Invitational with a 5km time of 18:19.1 (10/1) ... Recorded a 6km time of 22:25.9 at the PSU National Open (10/15) ... Placed 92nd at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships, recording a 6km time of 22:48.7 (10/29). (Indoor): Recorded a time of 10:43.72 in the 3000m at the 2022 Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic (1/28) ... Placed 9th at the St. Valentines Open in the 3000m with a time of 10:17.12 (2/18). (Outdoor): Placed 5th in the 5000m at the Illini Classic, recording a time of 17:15.51 (4/9) ... Placed 8th in the 5000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational, recording a time of 17:20.09 (4/14) ... Recorded a PB time of 17:15.11 in the 5000m at Drake Relays (4/28).
2020-21: (Cross Country): Competed in her first race for the Wildcats with a 6000M time of 22:12.8 at the Big Ten Championship (1/30). (Indoor):Clocked a time of 18:02.65 in the 5000M at the Hawkeye B1G Invitational (2/13). (Outdoor): Opened collegiate outdoor career in the 5000m at the Big Ten Invite #1, recording a time of 17:20.64 and placing 2nd (2/12) ... Recorded a 5000m time of 17:38.48 at the Big Ten Invite #2 (4/9) ... Recorded a PB time of 10:04.60 in the 3000m at the Wisconsin B1G Invitational (5/8).
WHY NORTHWESTERN?
I chose Northwestern in order to challenge myself both academically and athletically.
GET TO KNOW KATHERINE OFF THE COURSE:
What are you studying? Any career goals? I am majoring in English and Global Health Studies. I plan to go to law school after graduating from Northwestern.
What do you love most about Northwestern Cross Country? I love the people who I run alongside, and their passion for the sport.
Favorite memory of Northwestern Cross Country? I enjoyed racing in California in the spring of 2022.
What do you love about running? I love watching myself progress as a person and athlete.
What hobbies do you enjoy? I assist the Northwestern Prison Education Partnership with their work, and I write poetry.
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