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12/11/2017
Gophers Hand Out Annual Team Awards
Madeline Strandemo, Bethany Hasz, and Megan Hasz were named co-MVPs of the Gophers' 2017 season
10/29/2017
Gophers, Strandemo Land B1G Runner-Up Showings
Minnesota placed second in the team standings behind Madeline Strandemo's individual runner-up finish at the Big Ten Championship
10/13/2017
Gophers Place 10th at Nuttycombe Invite
Minnesota placed three runners among the top 25 en route to a top-10 team showing in Madison, Wis., on Friday
09/30/2017
Gophers Place Three in Top Eight at Louisville
Bethany Hasz, Madeline Strandemo, and Megan Hasz led Minnesota at the Greater Louisville Classic 5K Saturday
09/23/2017
No. 19 Gophers Place Third at Griak
Madeline Strandemo finished 10th overall to lead the Gophers to a third-place finish at the Roy Griak Invitational Saturday
12/12/2016
2016 W Cross Country Banquet
Photos from the Gophers' end-of-season banquet celebrating the 2016 cross country season.
10/30/2016
Gopher Women Run B1G Championships
Gophers take 4th
05/26/2015
Patty O'Brien
Photo gallery for women's cross country student-athlete Patty O'Brien.

2017 • Redshirt Junior Season: Named team co-captain • ran five races • placed among the top seven Gophers at all five meets • ran a season-best 6K time of 21:45.1 as the seventh Gopher in 56th place overall at the Big Ten Championship • ran a season-best 5K time of 17:40.05 as the fifth Gopher in 66th place overall at the Greater Louisville Classic • named an alternate for the NCAA Midwest Regional and the NCAA Championship.
2016 • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named Minnesota's Big Ten Cross Country Sportsmanship Award recipient, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and Academic All-Big Ten honoree • competed in six meets this season • finished among Minnesota’s top seven runners at all six meets • ran a career-best 5k time of 17:37.8 to finish fourth on the team and 90th overall at the Notre Dame Invitational • ran a season-best 6K time of 21:53.5 to place 97th as the sixth Gopher at the NCAA Midwest Regional • made Big Ten Championship debut, placing 61st as the seventh Gopher in 22:45.3.
2015 • Redshirt Freshman Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten honoree • ran five races • ran a career-best 21:39.2 as the eighth Gopher in 63rd place at the Big Ten Championship • placed 18th overall as the second Gopher in the open race at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational (21:39.3) • finished sixth on the team and 16th overall at the Oz Memorial (22:58.4) • placed eighth on the team at both the Griak Invitational (23:25.8) and the Greater Louisville Classic 5K (18:10.63) • served as an alternate at the NCAA Midwest Regional and NCAA Championship.
2014 • Freshman Season: Competed in five races as an unattached runner.
High School: A 2014 graduate of North St. Paul High School • four-year track & field letterwinner and two-year cross country letterwinner • joined cross country as a junior after playing soccer for two years • two-time state qualifier in cross country, finishing sixth at the 2013 Minnesota Class AA state cross country championships as a senior after placing 24th as a junior • 2013 Classic Suburban Conference champion in cross country • two-time all-state and all-conference honoree in cross country • placed 12th in the 3,200m at the 2014 Minnesota Class AA state track & field championships as a senior • 2013 and 2014 Classic Suburban Conference champion in the 1,600m • holds North St. Paul school records in 800m and 3,200m • also played soccer and hockey in high school • National Honor Society member.
Personal: Born February 17, 1996 • daughter of Peter and Diane O'Brien • has six siblings, Tom, Jim, Joe, Mary, Petey and Cathie • sister Mary played soccer at the University of Minnesota from 2010-11 • brother Jim played hockey at the University of Minnesota and in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils • enjoys skating, playing hockey and soccer, dancing and watching movies • elementary education major.
O'Brien's Postseason Appearances | |||
Year | Big Tens | Midwest Regional | NCAA Championship |
2014 | Redshirt | Redshirt | Redshirt |
2015 | 63rd, 21:39.2 | Alternate | Alternate |
2016 | 61st, 22:45.3 | 97th, 21:20.6 | DNC |
2017 | 56th, 21:45.1 | Alternate | Alternate |
MORE HEADLINES

'U' Programs Earn USTFCCCA Academic Honors
2/9/2018 - W. Cross Country
Both programs were among the best in the Big Ten with the women pacing the conference and the men ranking second.

Gophers to Host Summer Camps
2/4/2018 - W. Cross Country
Registration is now open for the 2018 Minnesota Track & Field and Cross Country youth camps on July 15-19, 2018.

Gophers Hand Out Annual Team Awards
12/11/2017 - W. Cross Country
Madeline Strandemo, Bethany Hasz, and Megan Hasz were named co-MVPs of the Gophers' 2017 season.
