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DyeStat Cross Country 2000
Billy Mills Classic
On the eve of the Florida 1A District 2 championships in 1999, coach Joe Gordon showed his St. John's team the movie, "Running Brave," about Billy Mills' improbable victory in the Olympics 10,000 meters. Inspired by the movie, the under St. John's boys went out the next day and won the district meet. So, this year, Gordon started a new meet, the Billy Mills Classic, and will fly Mills and his wife from California to spend the weekend with the teams.
Here is Coach Gordon's account of the 1999 race:
Last season, St.Johns lost 5 out of their top 7 runners. The computer, the formchart, the opposing coaches all said that winning was impossibility...but not in the minds of the coach and the seven MEN who took the line for St.Johns. They dreamed the impossible dream and made it possible. The night before the District Championship, the St.Johns Spartans watched the movie "Running Brave." The next morning, they won the District Championship for only the second time in School history. Coach Gordon asked Mills to come with the Spartans to our regional meet. But with only a weeks notice, he wasn't able to make it. But he sent each athlete on the team an autographed copy of the actual video of his Olympic Victory. This season, Coach Gordon asked Billy and Pat Mills to come to our home meet held in their honor. Billy and Pat Mills are coming all the way from Sacremento, California for the event, and will eat dinner with the team the night before the meet.
- Schedule:
8:30 AM Coaches Meeting with Billy Mills
9:00 AM Girls Varsity (Awards - Top 15)
9:45 AM Boys Varsity (Awards - Top 15)
10:15 AM Girls JV (Awards - Top 15)
10:55 AM Boys JV (Awards - Top 15) - Entry Fee
$35 & includes a copy of the movie "Running Brave" **Entries are limited to first 8 Teams, because we want the most interaction possible for each Team with Billy Mills. Note: Currently, a waiting list. 8 Entry forms have been sent. Entry forms along with Team Profile information (Athlete's Name, Grade, PR) for the Billy Mills Classic Program must be returned by September 4, 2000. - Contact: Jon Gordon, C/O Billy Mills Classic, 9727 Touchton Rd. #118, Jacksonville, FL, 32246. Phone (904) 374-4272.
- St. John's HS web site
- Lodging - (904) 264-1211 Best Western Hotel of Orange Park has special rates ($55) for the Billy Mills Classic. This includes a Breakfast buffet. Also, they offer All You Can Eat Spaghetti/Crab Legs the night before the race
