LAHS Girls XC Coach Kathy Hipwood at the 2022 New Mexico State XC Championships. Photo by Blake Wood
LAHS News:
Los Alamos High School (LAH) Girls Cross Country Coach Kathy Hipwood has been selected as the 2022 Girls High School Cross Country Coach of the Year for the state of New Mexico by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
This is the second year in a row, and third time in the last four years that Coach Hipwood has received this recognition.
“This honor is based upon your leadership and the success of the cross country team throughout the season,” CEO USTFCCCA Sam Seemes said. “It’s also a reflection of your hard work and the dedication of the student-athletes, the coaching staff, and the administration of the school.”
The USTFCCCA High School Coach of the Year Award Program is sponsored by the United States Marine Corps. Started in 2014, the program recognizes the best high school boys’ and girls’ coaches, at both the state and national levels in cross country and track & field. A boys’ and girls’ coach from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia are chosen at the end of each respective season as state-by-state winners, and from there, those 102 honorees are vetted, and two national award winners are selected.
“The recognition is an honor and is a tribute to all of the coaches and the team,” Coach Hipwood said. “This year was unique because it took a leap of faith on the part of the girls after a big turnover of last year’s varsity. The win was hard-fought and definitely rewarding, but the way the entire team embraced the whole process and gained confidence and trust in each other throughout the season made it very special.”
The LAHS Girls Cross Country team was undefeated for the second consecutive year against New Mexico schools from all divisions. They won the 2022 4A State Championships last November with the fastest top 5 average of all divisions. This state championship was the fourth in a row and 21st girls title for Coach Hipwood in her 29 years as head coach. With seven boys’ titles, Coach Hipwood has earned more championships than any other cross country coach in New Mexico history.
About the USTFCCCA:
The USTFCCCA is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches. The organization has more than 11,000 coaching members, encompassing NCAA track & field and cross country programs of all divisions, the NAIA, the NJCAA and several state high school track & field/cross country coaches associations.
