Los Alamos Rolls To Another Class 4A Sweep

By Mary Albl of DyeStat 

If there was ever any question of which track and field program is the most complete in New Mexico, the Los Alamos track team and field team proved any skeptics wrong this weekend at the 4A and 5A New Mexico State High School Track and Field Championships.

For the third year in a row, the Hilltoppers swept the 4A state team title at the University of New Mexico Track/Soccer Complex. Los Alamos became the first program (boys and girls) since Cleveland (2015-17) to achieve the three-peat. 

Led by standout sophomore Jaiya Daniels, the Los Alamos girls dominated the scene scoring an impressive 176.50 points. Daniels won the 100-meter dash (12.56 seconds), 200 (24.64), triple jump (39-0.25) and was part of the winning 4x100 (48.35) and 4x200 relay (1:42.51). In total, the team won 12 of the events as teammate Angelina Passalacqua won the 100-and 300-meter hurdles and was part of the winning 4x100. 

The Los Alamos boys scored 91 points to win the team championship. Junior Melaki Gutierrez led the way with wins in the 100 (11.02), 200 (21.31) and 4x200 (1:30.58). 

In 5A action, senior Sima Lucero of La Cueva led her team to a state championship winning the 200 (24.88), 100 hurdles (14.74), 300 hurdles (44.66) and was part of the winning 4x400 (4:07.02). 

In the field, Organ Mountain junior Shaolin Munir set a 5A meet record in the javelin throwing 145-4. 

The Cleveland boys continued their stronghold on the 5A scene as they scored 91 points to win the program's seventh straight title. Junior Nic Trujillo won the high jump (6-8) and was part of the first-place 4x400 (3:22.05) and runner-up 4x200 (1:28.70). Cleveland also won the sprint medley relay in 3:26.26.

In the distance events, Sandia High senior Steven West won the 1,600 in a time of 4:16.56 and second (9:39.07) in the 3,200.

May 5-6 - Class A, 2A & 3A  

The 3A, 2A and A state championships were held a week prior at the UNM Track Complex.

In 3A, the St. Michael's boys and girls easily swept the state titles again. St. Michael’s junior Rebekah Bagwell was a force on the track, winning the 100 (12.91), 200 (26.45) and 400 (60.25). Teammate Jada Lujan won both hurdles finals. The St. Michael’s boys were paced by senior Daniel Kupcho, who also swept the sprints, claiming gold in the 400 (49.07), 200 (21.97) and 100 (11.05). 

Similar to St. Michael’s, the Santa Rosa girls and boys claimed the 2A titles. Academy for Technology and the Classics Charli Koseoglu, a junior, claimed four titles, winning the 2A javelin (119-3), 100 hurdles (16.24), 100 (12.47) and 200 (25.85). 

In 1A, the Melrose girls and Logan boys were state team championship. 

Senior Tristan Pierce of Maxwell won the 1,600 (4:33.71) and 800 (1:58.67).

Team Scores 

Class 5A - Cleveland boys 91 points, La Cueva girls 76 points - RESULTS

Class 4A - Los Alamos boys 91 points, Los Alamos girls 176.50 points - RESULTS

Class 3A - St. Michael's boys 101 points, St Michael's girls 128 points - RESULTS

Class 2A -  Santa Rosa 66 points, Santa Rosa girls 70 points - RESULTS

Class 1A - Logan boys 93 points, Melrose girls 95 points - RESULTS