AlamogordoTownNews.com - Alamogordo Tigers Sports Flashback Cross Country 1976/77 - First Tiger Girl Cross Country Athlete to Letter

Eighteen Schools from Texas and New Mexico with 108 participating runners competed in the Las Cruces Invitational Cross-Country Meet. The Tiger, paced by Jimmy Brackeen’s 6th place finish, were the top New Mexico squad in the 18 team competition. Other Tiger’s to compete included Russell Cary 26th
place with a time of 15:06, Vincent Valdez. 45th place, Vincent Lenzo, 54th place 15:52, Ken Talley, 76th place 16:28 and Steve Joselyn, 77th at 16:42. This was the second competition of the Alamogordo Tigers Cross Country for the year and Alamo placed top of all New Mexico schools at both meets.

Alamogordo News Oct 24th, 1976 Headline “Alamogordo Harriers win own invitational” Alamogordo used team depth and a fine performance by No 2 runner Russell Carey to take a one point victory in the Tigers own invitational cross country meet at Tiger Stadium.

With AHS No 1 runner Jimmy Brackeen slowed by an injury, Cary crossed the finish line in 3rd place individually as the Tigers nipped second place Gadsden 52-53.

Third place finisher was Mayfield with 56 points, Las Cruces 4th with 62 points…

Brakeen finished in 7th place with a time of 16:56 with teammate Vincent Valdez in 8th with a 16:59. Vincent Lenzo finished 14th, 17:29; Steve Joselyn 20th, 18:13 and Ken Talley, 25th with a 18:49.

… 6th grader Rene Sepulveda made an impressive showing of 19th overall in the Junior Varsity Race.”

Alamogordo Cross Country placed 3rd at the District Meet and placed 2 runners in the top 5 qualifying them as individual runners for state. Highland won the event with a score of 47, Sandia was in 2nd place with 74 points and Alamo placed 3rd with 82 points.

Highlands Brian Salle was the individual 1st
place winner with a time of 18:07 but Alamogordo’s Jimmy Brackeen was on his heels for a 2nd place finish and a time of 18:06.

Russell Carey placed 5th with a 18:44 qualifying for state.

Alamogordo participants did not medal in the state competition.

Coach Phil Brown lettered Albert Baca, Jimmy Brackeen, Russell Carey, Stephen Josslyn, Steve Lenzo, Vincent Valdez, Ron Wainwright, and Roger Weitzel from the varsity team. Making Alamogordo and New Mexico sports history Kristine DeBoo became the first female Varsity Cross Country Runner to become lettered by Alamogordo High School since the launch of girl’s interscholastic sports.

Kristine Deboo the one and only girl on the 1977 Cross Country Team and first girl to letter at Alamogordo High in Cross Country.

Alamogordo Cross Country 1976/777(Photo Courtesy 1977 Annual Staff Alamogordo Tigers - Coach Bob Sepulveda The Hveem Years Book 2)

Varsity Cross Country Team: L to R Kneeling: Kenneth Weitzel, Miguel Carter, Kristine DeBoo, Albert Wagner, Michael Chavez, Mario Carter, Steve Lenzo and Bill Posbeck (manager). Standing L to R: Vincent Valdez, Ken Talley, Ron Wainwright, Russell Carey, Vincent Lenzo, Ozzie Gorbitz, Steve Josslyn, Benito Montoya, Albert Baca, Jimmy Brackeen, and Coach Phil Brown.

If you want to learn more about the history of Alamogordo Sports Check out the Coach Bob Sepulveda book series which covers Cross Country, Football and Track and Field in Alamogordo from 1912 to 1995. The first two books of the book series will be available for a book signing on September 4th from 6 pm to 8 pm at Roadrunner Emporium, 928 New York Avenue, Alamogordo, New Mexico.  Coach Bob Sepulveda will be on hand as well as several athletes from the past and KALH radio is doing a live remote from 6 to 8 pm so you may even see Chris Rollerson as well. Come check us out September 4th, 6 pm to 8 pm, 928 New York Avenue Alive After 5.

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