FREDONIA, N.Y. -- For the second time in two years, Zakk Hess (Clyde, N.Y. / North Rose-Wolcott) will represent Fredonia at the NCAA Division III men's cross country championship meet.

Hess and head cross country/track & field coach Tom Wilson left Thursday morning headed for Mason, Ohio, and the Golf Center at King's Island, the site of the men's and women's championship races.

Scheduled times are 11 a.m. for the men and 12:30 p.m. for the women.

"This is my last college cross country meet," Hess said Thursday morning. "My goal is to become an All-American."

His goal was different two years ago when, as a sophomore at Terre Haute, Ind., Hess's strategy was to go out fast and see how long he could hold on. He actually led the race during the first few hundred meters, only to drop back steadily and finish 184th.

"I learned," he said with a laugh, "never to go out that fast again."

Instead, he plans on running a similar style as last Saturday's Atlantic Regional in Rochester, N.Y. He went out quickly to avoid early traffic, dropped into a comfortable pace and lost some position, then roared to the fastest final 2,000-meter split in the entire field. He passed 14 runners down the stretch and finished fourth.

"To run a similar race at nationals," Wilson said, "Zakk will have to stay in the top 50 or so before he starts his kick. There should be a line of runner for him to pass."