From Roadrunner to U.S. Junior National Team Member

To make the U.S. junior national swim team, you need to finish among the top five Americans in your event. Crossroads senior Miles Blackson-Dunbar earned a spot on the team, after placing third for his age group in the 100-yard backstroke at the 2025 Winter U.S. Open and second in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2025 Summer Nationals. Next August, Miles will join 47 other male swimmers in representing the United States at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Vancouver, Canada.  

Making the junior national team is the pinnacle of a four-year journey that first began with a simple suggestion from a Crossroads friend. 

"I joined the Crossroads swim team my freshman year because one of my club teammates, Jake Hirshberg ’24, swam for the team and convinced me to do it," explained Miles. 

Miles is the captain of the Upper School boys varsity swim team and speaks highly of the program’s culture. "We're really unique, where a lot of us are kind of like one big friend group, and everybody just hangs out together," he said. "There's a lot of positivity and good energy around the team."

Miles' journey to the junior national team wasn't without significant challenges. During December of his sophomore year, an injury sidelined him for three months—a potentially career-ending setback for any elite swimmer with Olympic aspirations. It was during this difficult period that Crossroads swim coach Tara Shima’s holistic approach proved invaluable.

"It was really devastating, because I worked really hard to get back after a lot of injuries and setbacks," said Miles. “Tara is really good with the body and mind connection. She did a lot of meditations with me and helped me refine my mind and my body, helping me get back to where I am. I owe a lot of where I am today to her."

The physical setback led to heartbreak when Miles, who is a member of the club team Beach Cities Alpha, missed making the junior national team by just one place. Rather than giving up, Miles worked with Crossroads’ coaching staff to help him refocus his approach, incorporating more gym-focused work, mindfulness training, meditation and detailed race analysis.

"After every race, we started recording and breaking it down, seeing where I could improve," noted Miles. "I think that's been a really big help in getting to where I am now."

Balancing schoolwork with his heavy competition schedule can be a challenge, but with support, Miles has learned to preemptively reach out to his teachers when he knows he’ll be on the competition circuit for weeks at a time. Miles says that his grade advisor, PE teacher Bryan Jolly, is a Crossroads mentor who’s helped him achieve athletic success at such a high level. 

"Bryan helps me build a schedule for making up work or doing work on the road,” said Miles. “I think if you explain your situation and keep your advisors and parents involved, Crossroads does a really good job of helping you manage your workload."

Miles has a very hectic schedule filled with daily training, gym sessions, swim meets and coursework. But the countless hours and sweat Miles dedicates to training has paid off. His list of accolades and accomplishments are the stuff of an aspiring swimmer's dreams. And during his junior year, Miles committed to the University of Tennessee, where he plans to swim as a member of their Division I team. 

“I’m really looking forward to the competitive environment,” he said. “I haven’t really had training partners at that level before, so I’m excited to practice and race alongside guys who have the same mindset as me—wanting to be the best and see the team win.”

But before Miles departs for Knoxville, he has some goals he’d like to achieve during his last year as a Roadrunner: “I hope to win another team title or a state relay like my younger brother, who is now a freshman at Crossroads. I hope to leave him with a winning team— something to be proud of—and, most importantly, give back to Crossroads after it’s given me so much.”

Miles’ advice for Roadrunners who dream of similar athletic endeavors? “Listen to your coaches, listen to your body and keep working hard. If you do that, you can go as far as you want.”