The Copperhead Boys’ Cross Country Team hoists their first-place trophy after winning the Seamus Camp Cross Country Invite at Park High School in Livingston on Friday, Aug. 28, led by sophomore Gage Novak, third from right, who also took first place at the meet. Photo courtesy of Anaconda Junior/Senior High School.
By James S. Rosien
Anaconda Weekly Review publisher
The Fall 2026 sports season is underway and Anaconda’s cross-country teams are already off to a fast start, with sophomore Gage Novak leading the Copperhead boys to a first-place finish at the Seamus Camp Cross Country Invite at Park High School in Livingston on Aug. 28. They’ll look to continue to their pace-setting ways at their closest meet to home of the season, the Butte Central Invitational, which will be held at Fairmont on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Novak blew by the competition at Livingston, setting a personal-best time of 18:33.3 on his way to winning the boys’ 5000m varsity race by 40 seconds over second-place runner Langley Hamilton of Park High School (19:13.5).
The Copperheads had three more boys who medaled by finishing in the top 10 on their road to first place as a team: Austin Schellenberg in seventh with a time of 22 minutes flat; Wyatt Jense in ninth with a time of 23:30.4; and Avery Wayland, right behind in tenth with a time of 23:39.1.
Madden Zeren had a personal-best time of 24:08.9 taking 13th place, Lucas Siders finished 14th with a time of 24:17.5, and Niles Harr was 16th with a time of 35.16.0.
Two Anaconda girls’ varsity runners also medaled at Livingston: Jayda Cornelius finished ninth with a time of 27:14.3, and Grace Mehrens was tenth with a time of 27:34.4.
Grace Richter finished in 12th place with a time of 30:22.2, and Elizabeth Krakowka was 14th with a time of 30:43.2.
There were no Copperhead JV or middle school runners in the Seamus Camp Cross Country Invite, however Anaconda Junior High School will host their own season opener, the Anaconda Meet, on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. at Washoe Park.
As for the senior high runners, Copperhead Cross Country as mentioned above will be just down the road for their meet at Fairmont Hot Springs Golf Course on Tuesday, Sept. 8. JV girls start at 4:30 p.m., JV boys at 5:15 p.m., varsity girls at 5:45 p.m. and varsity boys at 6:15 p.m.
For more information on the Butte Central Invitational, visit https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/278956/info.
