MONTROSE – Dana Shellhorn, the only member of the Montrose Indians cross-country team to compete at State, beat last year’s time and came in 27th out of a field of 168 runners.

That makes her the fifth-fastest girl in cross-country competition in the history of Montrose High School, said Coach Brian Simpson.

Shellhorn’s time was 20 minutes, 24 seconds this year, Simpson said. She also placed 27th last year at the state meet.

“So that means that her time from our regional meet in Delta put her at the fifth-fastest girl to be out for cross-country at Montrose High through all its history,” he said. “That’s a nice accomplishment for her, and she still has another year.”

Simpson was ill and didn’t get to go to the meet in Aurora, so he stayed in touch by cell phone, he said. He was pleased with Shellhorn’s performance.

Now that the season is over, Simpson is already looking ahead to next year, and encourages more kids, especially girls, to come out for cross-country.

“It’s always hard to say about next year, but there are good runners coming through, and some young runners. Once they get in as sophomores, they are really going to start picking up and moving.”

On the boys’ cross-country team, underclassmen will “have some big shoes to fill,” Simpson said, because five of the seven varsity team members will graduate in May.

“On the girls side, we just need more runners out and running with us,” he said. “I encourage more girls to come and try out for next year. It’s hard not to get excited about what they’re doing.”