Look for a new young running phenom to be making news in the upcoming high school cross country season. Little Shelby Kittrell a sophomore runner for Fernandina Beach High School cross country team is poised to compete as a Pirate front runner.
After a hot summer of tough base training Shelby has burst on the running scene with a breakthrough personal best, first overall performance in the Labor Day weekend Turtle Trot 5K. Her 19:10 time shatters her prior personal best time of 20:19 set in the May of this year Shrimp Fest 5K.
When asked before the Saturday Turtle Trot what she expected of the day's race Shelby in her always humble almost meek fashion responded with an expectation of running under twenty minutes ….. and did she… even surprising herself with what looked like a comfortable easy effort. When asked about the race Shelby said, "I think I did better than I expected and it wasn't that hard for me so hopefully it will be easer to get faster".
Shelby attended this summer's 2006 Running Camp sponsored by Amelia Island Runners where Shelby says that experience "definitely" benefited her running. There she shared with the group a desire to run eighteen minutes for 5k and compete at the state level for a championship. Here is a runner who is focused with a goal and has now demonstrated she can do the hard work to achieve success.
Shelby finished last years cross country season as a freshman making her way to the state finals and finishing 35th in a field of 175 of Florida's best with a finishing time of 21:13. When asked about her season goals, Shelby said she would like to run in the low 18's and finish in the top ten at the state finals. Watch this young lady as once again she will surprise herself and do better that she expected.