The Shelby Coyote Cross Country team competed Friday at the Great Falls Invitational at Anaconda Hills, taking on one of the most demanding courses on its schedule.
Senior Thomas Knickerbocker led the Shelby boys in the Small School/JV AA race, finishing 23rd in 20:07.12. Knickerbocker found himself in a tightly packed group near the finish, crossing just five-hundredths of a second behind the 22nd-place runner.
Junior Corin Scarborough finished 61st in 21:19.90, continuing his strong first cross country season after narrowly missing the 20-minute mark earlier in the week at the Toole County Challenge.
On the girls' side, senior Aeris Stewart competed in the second Varsity/Challenger race and placed 11th in 21:53.46.
Anaconda Hills sharply contrasted with the flat Sunburst course the Coyotes raced four days earlier, with its rolling terrain and demanding layout emphasizing strength and race management over fast times.
Shelby now enters the final stretch of the regular season, with meets at Valier on October 12 and Choteau on October 15 before the State Cross Country Championships on October 24.