"To me, we must learn to spell the word RESPECT. We must respect the rights and properties of our fellowman. And then learn to play the game of life, as well as the game of athletics, according to the rules of society. If you can take that and put it into practice in the community in which you live, then, to me you have won the greatest championship."

JESSE OWENS
4 time Gold Medalist
1936 Olympic Games

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WHEN OPPORTUNITY MEETS PREPAREDNESS!

It has been said that when opportunity and preparedness meet, there is success! For Shondelle McCray and many of his teammates, the Region 1 Junior Olympics in Kingston, NY was such a time. With 30 of their 42 athletes qualifying for the Region 1 JO Meet, a strong performance was in order. Head Coach Anthony Mills Sr. states, "This is the meet and the time of the season when we find out how truly talented we are." He adds, "We are here to stretch those our athletes to the next level!" That "level" is the National Junior Olympics, which will be held in Baltimore, MD the last week of July.

Shondelle was the first Bantam Boy for the Country Mills Eagles to qualify in any event for the National JO's. He was a Gold Medalist in the Bantam Boys 4 x 100m Relay (Zach Medick, Mark Tatlock, Jesse Cutler, Shondelle McCray), and Silver Medalist in the Bantam Boys Triathlon (Shot Put, High Jump, 400m) and the Bantam Boys 100m. Kelsey Hanson won a Gold Medal and set a new Country Mills Eagles record in the Youth Girls Pentathlon with a score of 2,677, and was within striking distance of setting a Region 1 record in the event. Kelsey also won a Gold Medal in the High Jump, a Silver Medal in the 100m High Hurdles. Anthony Mills Jr. won a Silver Medal in the Young Men's Javelin and a Bronze Medal in the Discus. Kayla Owens received a Gold Medal in the Bantam Girls Triathlon, while her teammate Shannon Lenzi took a Silver Medal in the Midget Girls Pentathlon and a Bronze Medal in the Shot Put. Katie Wolfe is the first female athlete to qualify for the Country Mills Eagles to attend the National JO's in the Young Women's division and in a distance race, the 3000m run, as she wom a Silver Medal in that event.

"We came Prepared, and this was cetainly an Opportunity! That combination usually means Success, and we accomplished that here this weekend!, exclaims the Head Coach. "We now have more preparedness to tend to!"

Pictured Above: Shondelle McCray prepares for an attempt at the next height in the High Jump for the Bantam Boys Triathlon at the Region 1 Junior Olympics.