A big tip to the hat to juniors Andrew Quallio of Zama American and Celine Baldevia of Osan American, Stars and Stripes' Athletes of the Quarter.

Quallio's feats may have been expected. He came to Zama last spring with a strong pedigree, ninth place in the 2006 Florida 4-A championships running for Sandalwood High.

After setting school records in the mile and two-mile last spring, Quallio ran the fastest cross-country time in the region this season, nearly breaking the 15-minute mark at Iwakuni in October. He became the first DODDS-Japan winner of the Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools title in 10 years. And he won the Far East cross country gold medal nearly a minute better than Brant Casteel of Kadena.

But Baldevia and the Cougars ... wow, talk about your quintessential thunderbolt out of a clear sky story.

Osan American was given little chance of upending the three international-school powers, Faith Academy, Morrison Christian Academy and International School of the Sacred Heart. So the Cougars went out and did just that.

Congratulations to Andrew, Celine and all the category winners.