An estmated 100 plus junior high school-aged girls formed this scrum as officials prepared to launch them in their age group of a cross country meet at Marshal Park in Ontario Saturday.  They represented 15 area schools and were part of an estimated 1,000+ contestants in the meet.

Adopted granddaughter Mackenna Curtis-Collins (center) is part of the pack shortly after the start of the race.

Mid-way in the 2 mile event Mackenna has caught and joined the leaders.

Digging for every ounce of energy and heart Mackenna closes on the race leader as they approach within mere feet of the finish line...

...and congratulates the winner as the following runners just begin to approach the finish in the distant background.

Mackenna (12) is one of the youngest and smallest competitors in the junior high division.  She just started in junior high school this year and already has multiple, first-place finishes.  As you can imagine, her high school cross country coach already is paying attention.

Then...

...about an hour later she (#6) competed with her soccer team...

...and celebrates (below) what turns out to be the winning goal made by her teammate late in this 1-0 contest, much to the chagrin of the competitor behind her.

Can you see the smile on this very proud grandpa's face!

(That's me behind the camera.)