Congratulations to the Alamogordo Girls Track and Field Team who won their 2nd consecutive 5A State Championship and arriving home to a police escort in victory… Thank you Mayor Susan Payne for representing Alamogordo from the stands of this state championship and the live feed of victory…
The Alamogordo boys finish 7th overall at the 5A State Championships in Albuquerque.
Congrats to Lady Tigers on bringing home back-to back blue trophies! This program was begun by Coach Marilyn Sepulveda and not since her time in leadership in the 80s has the program seen as much success as the last two years. Living in her legacy she would be proud of these young ladies and of the leadership shown by the present coaching staff under Jason Atkinson, as head coach.
Yvonne Stinson is the high point scorer with 28.5 points!
The year as 1977 and the Alamogordo Girls Track and Field Team continued to show the state they were a team to take serious as they captured the 3AAAA district crown as the top team in the district. The Tigers earned 134 points placing 1st with Mayfield at 122 points in 2nd place and Las Cruces in 3rd place with 104 points.
Ruthie Fatheree collected a total of 33 points to pace Alamogordo’s effort for a victory.
Susan Lee, 4th Place 100 Yard Dash, 11.8 (state qualified)
Karen Guerrero, 4th Place, 440 Yard Dash, 63.4
Delinder Compton, 4th Place, 440 Yard Dash, 65.4
Angela Holloway, 4th Place, Shot Put, 34’ 5”
Janet Haug, 6th Place, 440 Yard Dash 65.9
Lisa Busick, 6th Place, Mile Run, 6:14.0
Coming off the district meet 10 girls qualified for state in 11 events. Ruthie Fatheree led the team in 5 events at the state meet. Susan Lee and Vicki Lee also feel the team pressure as both are competing in 7 events.
Albuquerque Manzano wins top team honors in girls AAAA Track & Field for the 1977 season. Alamogordo Girls placed 6th at the state meet.
Medalist at the state meet included:
Vicki Lee, Susan Lee, Debbie Salcido, Fatheree, 2nd, Place 440 Relay, 50.30
Vicki Lee, 5th Place, 100 Yard Dash, 11.38
Ruthie Fatheree, 6th Place, 50 Yard Dash, 6.26
4th Place, 220, 26.45
Carmen Smith, 2nd Place, Shot Put, 40.3
Susan Lee, Fatheree, Salcido and Donna Scroggins, 3rd Place, 880 Relay, 1:47.5
Kim Campbell, 4th Place, Long Jump, 16’ 2 ¼
The 1977 Athletics season seemed to be coalescing with the coaches working more closely together under a new football coach now in full force that being coach Gary Hveem. At Alamogordo High School in 1977 both the girl and boy student athletes began working closer together.
Cross Country, Track & Field, Golf and Tennis had boys and girls training together and sharing coaching staffs. Girls Track under the leadership of Head Coach Marilyn Sepulveda was assisted by Kay Morgan and Joe Bryant and beginning to garner attention from around the state. In the years to come many great things would be seen based on this solid foundation of excellence.
Most athletic programs were growing at Alamogordo High in 1977, but the result of Title IX and expanded girls athletics, the decision was made to cut the wrestling program to ensure all other programs were funded appropriately and all students had the opportunity to compete.
The 1977 school year also saw the return of Lawrence Johnson from a former star athlete and student to a teacher and coach who assisted the boys and girls track programs. As outlined in book one in the series he had an amazing career at Alamogordo, became a guidance counselor who assisted hundreds of students and ultimately became the Athletic Director in future years.
Lawrence Johnson was born July 15, 1949 in Dallas, Texas, to Rubin Lee and Susie Mae Johnson. His nickname was Slick and was famous with his student athletes for his sunglasses. He graduated from Alamogordo High School in 1969. He was an athlete under Coach Sepulveda and others. He was a district track and field champion in broad jump.
He went to college at Western New Mexico University in Silver City where he earned his bachelor’s in 1972 and master’s degree in 1975.
“I graduated from high school here in Alamogordo in 1968 and went off to college, I came back in 1972 and I got a job,” Johnson said in a 2014 Daily News article about his retirement. “I started teaching physical education and social studies at the middle school and I just continued from there. I really enjoyed teaching the kids, I also enjoyed coaching. I started the learning process at that time and I really enjoyed myself.”
He served 42 years at Alamogordo as a coach, teacher, guidance counselor and athletic director.
In 1982, Johnson began working at Alamogordo High School as a track and boys basketball coach, which he did for five years after prior experience as the JV Basketball Coach and Coach at the Middle High. He aided Coach Sepulveda from the beginning of his tenure with the Alamogordo school systems and throughout his career.
He also served as a guidance counselor for six years. Johnson became the assistant athletic director at AHS in 1993, the following year he became the athletic director. Johnson served as athletic director at AHS for 21 years, the longest tenured Athletic director in the school’s history.
He served on the New Mexico High School Coaches Association Board of Directors. In addition, Johnson was a member of the New Mexico Athletic Directors Association, (NMADA) board for 20 years. From 1998 to 1999, New Mexico Athletic Directors Association (NMADA) board for 20 years. From 1998 to 1999, he was president of NMADA.
In 2017, Johnson was honored with the Distinguished Service award from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). He was one of 11 educators nationwide to receive the award.
In 1972, Johnson began working at Alamogordo High School as a track and boys basketball coach, which he did for five years after prior experience as the JV Basketball Coach and Coach at the Middle High. He aided Coach Sepulveda from the beginning of his tenure with the Alamogordo school systems.
Alamogordo School Board members unanimously approved the renaming of the Tiger Pit sports complex at Alamogordo High School to honor Lawrence E. Johnson for his many years of contribution to the community and the thousands of students and athletes he positively affected as a mentor and role model. His legacy continues in that facility today…
Excerpted from Coach Bob Sepulveda The Early Daysa joint collaboration of Author Chris Edwards and Artist Rene Sepulveda, available at Roadrunner Emporium, 928 New York Avenue, Alamogordo, New Mexico and onAmazon in 36 countries. Soon to be released, Coach Bob Sepulveda The Golden Years 1977 to 1995soon to be released on Amazon and fine independent bookstores everywhere.
Alamogordo Girls WIN MEET! Tiger Boys finish 2nd at Cleveland Invitational in Rio Rancho
Complete Results by competition…
Name School Seed Finals Points
1 Ellary Alamogordo H 12:17.07 12:31.20 7
2 Najar, Vanesa Alamogordo H 12:33.20 13:16.87 5
Event 2 Boys 3200 Meter Run ======================================================================== Name Year School Seed Finals Points
1 Rael, Nathias Sue Clevelan 10:50.00 10:47.27 7
2 Ross, Colin Sue Clevelan 10:57.62 11:18.67 5
3 Miller, Tobias Sue Clevelan 11:00.00 11:31.63 4
4 Dawes, Caiden Sue Clevelan 11:10.00 x11:45.03
5 Sisneros, Santos Belen High S 11:27.87 12:48.31 3
6 Hallbeck, Jack Alamogordo H 12:21.19 12:57.63 2
7 Padilla, Matias Belen High S 12:41.50 13:11.49
Girls 4×100 Meter Relay ========================================================================School Seed Finals Points
1 Alamogordo High School ‘A’ 50.78 51.47 10
2 Sue Cleveland High School ‘A’ 53.10 52.55 8
3 Pojoaque Valley High School ‘A’ 1:03.95 53.16 6
4 Belen High School ‘A’ 56.31 56.22
Event 4 Boys 4×100 Meter Relay ======================================================================== School Seed Finals Points
1 Sue Cleveland High School ‘A’ 43.05 43.63 10
2 Belen High School ‘A’ 46.32 45.60 8
3 Alamogordo High School ‘A’ 45.23 45.70 6
4 Pojoaque Valley High School ‘A’ 47.60 46.45 4
Event 5 Girls 100 Meter Hurdles ========================================================================Name Year School Seed Finals Points
1 Duchene, Kaelan Alamogordo H 16.99 17.87 7
2 Goodmacher, Abigail Sue Clevelan 16.29 18.27 5
3 Riordan, Anna Alamogordo H 17.84 19.20 4
4 Soe, Saung Alamogordo H 19.66 20.77 3
5 Castillo, Sofia Belen High S 19.73 21.05 2
6 Fillmore, Marie Alamogordo H 22.70 x22.55
7 Martinez, Monroe Pojoaque Val 24.04 27.30 1
Event 6 Boys 110 Meter Hurdles ========================================================================Name Year School Seed Finals H# Points
1 Avila, Antonio Sue Clevelan 18.00 15.72 2 7
2 Kotter, Gabe Alamogordo H 17.29 17.69 2 5
3 Shendo, Devonte Sue Clevelan 17.60 17.97 2 4
4 Wallace, William Sue Clevelan 19.25 18.47 2 3
5 Sell, Zack Alamogordo H 17.65 19.15 2 2
6 Griego, Elijah Sue Clevelan 19.52 x20.19 2
7 Padilla, Alan Pojoaque Val 21.16 21.39 1 1
8 Hidalgo, Marques Belen High S 23.74 24.35 1
9 Benavidez, Julian Belen High S 25.31 1
10 Ortiz, Aiden Pojoaque Val 28.56 1
Event 7 Girls 100 Meter Dash ======================================================================== Name Year School Seed Finals H# Points
1 Martin, Justyse Alamogordo H 12.58 13.22 2 7
2 Thomas, Sydney Alamogordo H 13.30 13.75 2 5
3 Quintana, Alicia Pojoaque Val 12.59 13.97 2 4
4 Mamuya, Nia Sue Clevelan 13.28 14.18 2 3
5 Shaw, Haley Alamogordo H 13.79 14.36 2 2
6 Jamerson, Arianna Sue Clevelan 14.00 14.37 1 1
7 Quintana, Sonya Pojoaque Val 13.20 14.61 2
8 Dannenberg, Ashley Sue Clevelan 14.20 14.62 1
9 Horn, Danialle Sue Clevelan 14.03 x14.75 1
10 Gomez, Analyssa Pojoaque Val 15.56 15.55 1
11 Maez, Martina Pojoaque Val 16.04 x15.97 1
12 Dalmas, Charlie Mae Alamogordo H
13.97 x16.00 2 13 Chavez, Emma Belen High S 16.19 1
Event 8 Boys 100 Meter Dash ========================================================================Name Year School Seed Finals H# Points
1 Wysong, Evan Sue Clevelan 11.51 11.86 2 7
2 West, Brandon Sue Clevelan 11.88 11.93 2 5
3 Sanchez, Nathan Belen High S 11.60 12.15 2 4
4 Tuttle, Evert Belen High S 11.83 12.29 2 3
5 Meloy Chavez, Anthon Pojoaque Val 11.79 12.4
6 2 2 6 Matinez, Diego Pojoaque Val 12.71 12.49 1 1
7 Tibbs, Sam Belen High S 11.78 12.65 2
8 Dodd, Ethan Sue Clevelan 11.89 12.70 1
9 Barraza, Ezequiel Alamogordo H 11.84 12.89 2
10 Wedlow, Amarius Alamogordo H 11.94 12.92 1
11 Surpris, Christian Alamogordo H 12.14 13.09 1
12 Vasquez, Jesse Belen High S x13.37 1 — Murphy, David Sue Clevelan 11.61 DQ 2
Event 9 Girls 4×800 Meter Relay ========================================================================School Seed Finals Points
1 Alamogordo High School ‘A’ 10:35.92 11:06.04 10
2 Sue Cleveland High School ‘A’ 11:59.20 8
3 Belen High School ‘A’ 12:10.64 6
Event 10 Boys 4×800 Meter Relay ========================================================================School Seed Finals Points
1 Sue Cleveland High School ‘A’ 8:41.49 8:59.29 10
2 Alamogordo High School ‘A’ 9:12.00 9:31.42 8
3 Pojoaque Valley High School ‘A’ 10:30.02 10:28.07 6
4 Belen High School ‘A’ 11:14.69 4
Event 11 Girls 4×200 Meter Relay ======================================================================== School Seed Finals Points
1 Alamogordo High School ‘A’ 1:49.28 1:47.13 10
2 Sue Cleveland High School ‘A’ 1:54.32 1:54.72 8 3
Belen High School ‘A’ 1:59.87 2:00.93 6 4 Pojoaque Valley High School ‘A’ 2:13.38 2:17.53 4
Event 12 Boys 4×200 Meter Relay ======================================================================== School Seed Finals Points
1 Sue Cleveland High School ‘A’ 1:31.88 1:33.82 10
2 Alamogordo High School ‘A’ 1:35.80 1:34.43 8
3 Belen High School ‘A’ 1:37.04 1:36.00 6
4 Pojoaque Valley High School ‘A’ 1:42.16 1:43.50 4
Event 13 Girls 400 Meter Dash ======================================================================== Name Year School Seed Finals H# Points
1 Quintana, Alicia Pojoaque Val 58.50 1:04.52 2 7
2 Gerou, Eva Alamogordo H 1:05.47 1:05.70 2 5
3 Shaw, Haley Alamogordo H 1:09.46 1:07.14 2 4
4 Walker, Gracie Alamogordo H 1:02.25 1:07.60 2 3
5 Shaner, Tori Sue Clevelan 1:10.27 1:13.32 2 2
6 Mbonifor, Kaileen Sue Clevelan 1:15.72 1:15.43 1 1
7 Wright, Jada Belen High S 1:16.00 1
8 Bob, Jaelynn Belen High S 1:20.08 1
9 Lopez, Maesyn Belen High S 1:12.50 1:20.75 1
10 Bernal, Vianey Pojoaque Val 1:29.55 1:26.83 1
Event 14 Boys 400 Meter Dash ========================================================================Name Year School Seed Finals H# Points
1 Monreal, Aurelio Alamogordo H 54.96 55.97 2 7
2 Howell, Brandon Sue Clevelan 53.50 56.22 2 5
3 Bernal, Ivan Alamogordo H 55.92 57.94 2 4
4 Fresquez, Nicholas Belen High S 1:00.26 59.87 1 3
5 Holt, Wyatt Alamogordo H 57.37 1:00.44 2 2
6 Sell, Matthew Alamogordo H 56.06 x1:02.76 2
7 Parra-Erivez, Aaron Belen High S 1:03.61 1:03.03 1 1
8 Lopez, Axel Belen High S 1:05.38 1:03.77 1
9 Duran, Alexandro Pojoaque Val 1:03.57 1:04.51 1
10 Lujan, Javin Pojoaque Val 1:09.90 1:09.38 1
Event 15 Girls 300 Meter Hurdles ========================================================================Name Year School Seed Finals Points
1 Duchene, Kaelan Alamogordo H 49.19 48.98 7
2 Castillo, Sofia Belen High S 53.19 53.76 5
3 Riordan, Anna Alamogordo H 52.34 56.24 4
4 Soe, Saung Alamogordo H 54.10 57.24 3
5 Castillo, Juliana Alamogordo H 53.45 x1:03.41
6 Garcia, Aaliyah Belen High S 1:04.93 2
Goodmacher, Abigail Sue Clevelan 51.29 District Qualified
Event 16 Boys 300 Meter Hurdles ========================================================================Name Year School Seed Finals H# Points
1 Kotter, Gabe Alamogordo H 40.50 43.05 2 7
2 Griego, Elijah Sue Clevelan 46.54 43.50 2 5
3 Wysong, Evan Sue Clevelan 44.62 44.29 2 4
4 Shendo, Devonte Sue Clevelan 45.06 44.53 2 3
5 Wallace, William Sue Clevelan 47.73 x47.21 2
6 Wedlow, Amarius Alamogordo H 48.70 50.48 2 2
7 Padilla, Alan Pojoaque Val 51.27 1 1
8 Siseneros, Carlos Pojoaque Val 51.93 51.76 1
9 Hidalgo, Marques Belen High S 58.22 56.01 1
10 Benavidez, Julian Belen High S 59.81 56.80 1
11 Ortiz, Aiden Pojoaque Val 57.12 59.11 1
12 Lujan, Javin Pojoaque Val 53.26 x1:10.47 1
Event 17 Girls 800 Meter Run ========================================================================Name Year School Seed Finals Points
1 Battle, Ellary Alamogordo H 2:23.76 2:29.45 7
2 Martinez, Sara Belen High S 2:56.05 5
3 Towles, Elizabeth Pojoaque Val 3:04.16 2:57.24 4
4 Sanchez, Lisette Belen High S 2:58.14 3
5 Romero, Danielle Pojoaque Val 3:03.14 3:11.92 2
6 Serna, Kaylee Pojoaque Val 3:15.46 3:17.21 1 7 Bob, Jaelynn Belen High S 3:19.21
Event 18 Boys 800 Meter Run ========================================================================Name Year School Seed Finals Points 1 Nunn, Caden Sue Clevelan 2:06.00 2:02.16 7
2 Fragua, Jonathan Sue Clevelan 2:06.00 2:06.96 5
3 Smothermon, Dylan Sue Clevelan 2:13.00 2:15.05 4
For a complete history of the Alamogordo Track and Field and Football program to include a listing of ALL District and State Tiger Medalist from 1914 to 1976 check out the book series
Chris Edwards Author, Mentor/Executive Coach & Political Consultant 