The Shelby Coyote Cross Country team took on the largest field of the season Saturday at the Mountain West Classic in Missoula, with several Coyotes continuing to build on early-season performances while two runners made their season debuts.
Senior Thomas Knickerbocker led the Shelby boys, finishing 75th in the JV race with a time of 19:25.4. Knickerbocker was caught in heavy traffic early in the large field but worked his way forward as the race progressed.
Junior Corin Scarborough continued the strong start to his first cross country season, finishing 159th in 20:29.1. The performance was a new personal best, improving slightly on the 20:31.46 he ran at the Piikunii Pass Invite in Browning.
Sophomore Tel Gray returned to cross country competition for the first time in two years after taking last season away from the sport. Gray made a solid return, finishing 229th in 21:11.8.
Freshman Jaxon Hooker also made his official high school cross country debut in Missoula. Hooker finished his first 5K in 23:37.0, giving him a starting point to build from during the remainder of the season.
On the girls' side, senior Aeris Stewart competed in the Varsity Girls race and finished 116th in 21:34.0. Stewart continues to build on a strong early season that included a sixth-place finish and a 20:53.49 performance at Browning the previous week.
The Mountain West Classic provided the Coyotes with a much different racing experience than their smaller meets closer to home, with deep fields and heavy traffic throughout the course.
Shelby will take next weekend away from competition before returning to action during a busy week. The Coyotes will travel to Sunburst on Monday, September 28, for the Toole County Challenge Dual Meet before heading to Great Falls on Friday, October 2, for the Great Falls Invitational at the notoriously challenging Anaconda Hills course.
The two meets will provide Shelby with very different tests as the Coyotes move into the heart of the season.
