A Dublin Teen Has Made History

They say that good things sometimes come in small packages and that is definitely the case with an athlete we have here in Dublin. She is only 5'2" and weighs just 95 pounds. But in the cross-country world, Shelby Nickles is a force with which to be reckoned.   

Growing up, Shelby always was the one to watch on the soccer or lacrosse fields. People would comment on her speed and encourage her to get into running.   

Shelby wanted to start running as a freshman at , but missed out on the communications about cross country the summer before school started. Rather than come late to the team, she trained on her own and joined the team the summer before her sophomore year.  

Shelby runs year round, averaging six to eight miles a day. Cross-country races are 5K runs, or 3.1 miles. Her fastest time for the distance is 18:29 on a course in Clovis in October.  

Shelby is the only girl in the history of Dublin High School to make it to the CIF State Championships. She's competed in them twice, her junior and senior years. Her time at state this year was 19:34, but this was also the fastest year in Division III girls racing in the history of the championships.  

Shelby, who is quiet and shy, is recognized by her school peers as an outstanding athlete; the senior class recently named her its "most athletic" female. 

Under the guidance of her coach, Chris Williams, Shelby has piqued the interest of college cross-country coaches across the country.  Look for exciting things from this hometown girl.