Nationally Ranked El Pasoan's (50's-80's)

My roots in Track and XC lie in El Paso,TX. The most notable Track athlete to come out of the city would be Alan Culpepper ,however, there have been many others over the years that put up some great performances. El Paso was not unlike any other city in the sense that High School Track and XC got very little media coverage. I have kept a list that goes back to 1956 for performances by El Paso Track athletes who cracked the National Lists. Some years the lists were 10 deep, some 25 and some years 50 deep. Some great times/marks may have been left out because of this. I only have the mens lists as well. I have been searching for the women's rankings as I would love to put those up as well.
There were some great ones to remember. Sergio Oaxaca being ranked in the top 20 Nationally in 4 events in 1980! There were 2 top 10 ranked 300 Meter Hurdlers in the same District (1-5a) in 1983. Eastwood High had 2 Athletes ranked top 10 in 1981. Dennis Deloach of Irvin ranked top 10 3 consecutive years.
I hope to put up 1990 through 2008 soon but the age of the internet makes those years a bit easier to find. I hope some young Track Athletes in El Paso can look back at these marks and find inspiration to top them.


National Rank Year Name School Event Performance

#8 1956 Charley Rosemond EP Ysleta 880 Yards 1:55.5

#25 1958 Sal Rocha EP Austin Discus 164'2"

#36 1961 Dick Vogin (sp?) EP Burges 100 Yard dash 9.6

#12 1961 Eric Salmanca EP Jefferson 440 Yards 47.6

#18 1967 Bob Foelpoe (sp?) EP Austin 440 Yards 47.8

#25 1968 Herb Miller EP Jefferson 100 Yard Dash 9.4

#12 1968 Pryor Nunn (sp?) EP Coronado Discus 180'8"

#4 1970 Dennis Deloach EP Irvin High Jump 6'10"

#4 1971 Dennis Deloach EP Irvin High Jump 6'10"

#3 1971 Relay Team EP Andress Sprint Medley 3:30.4

#32 1972 Troy Squires EP Coronado 100 Yard Dash 9.6

#31 1972 Danny Ayub EP Coronado 120 Yard Hurdles 14.0

#8 1972 Dennis Deloach EP Irvin High Jump 6'10"

#40 1973 Joe DeLaCerda EP Irvin High Jump 6'8.5"

#22 1973 Relay Team EP Coronado Sprint Medley 3:32.3

#26 1973 Relay Team EP Bel Air Sprint Medley 3:32.9

#29 1973 Relay Team EP Austin Distance Medley 10:27.8

#25 1974 Joe DeLaCerda EP Austin High Jump 6'10"

#15 1975 Curtis Collier EP Burges 330 Yard Hurd. 37.7

#28 1975 Relay Team EP Burges Mile Relay 3:18.4

#17 1976 Bruce Frazier Fabens 440 Yards 47.8

#14 1978 Kenny Schmidt EP Austin 880 Yards 1:52.0

#24 1980 Sergio Oaxaca EP Bel Air 800 Meters 1:51.55

#2 1980 Sergio Oaxaca EP Bel Air 1500 Meters 3:51.25

#19 1980 Sergio Oaxaca EP Bel Air Mile/1600 M 4:10.4/4:08.9

#7 1980 Sergio Oaxaca EP Bel Air 3000 Meters 8:23.34

#6 1980 Jerry Bullitt EP Andress Shot Put 64'1/4"

#4 1981 Tony Tolson EP Austin 400 Meter Dash 46.74

#9 1981 Toby Bell EP Eastwood Pole Vault 16'0

#8 1981 Jim Jordan EP Eastwood Shot Put 64'3"

#5 1981 Jim Jordan EP Eastwood Discus 195'8

#6 1983 Dale Laverty EP Andress 300 Met. Hurd. 36.84

#9 1983 Ernest Vigil EP Irvin 300 Met. Hurd. 37.09

#8 1983 Paul Benavides EP Burges Pole Vault 16'0

#7 1987 Dino Napier EP Irvin 200 Meters 20.90

#9 1987 David Medlin EP Hanks 3000 Meters 8:27.66

#5 1988 Dino Napier EP Irvin 200 Meters 20.83

#4 1988 Gilbert Contreras El Paso High 800 Meters 1:49.8

#6 1988 Gilbert Contreras El Paso High 1500 Meters 3:51.9

Reina Vs. Lowe.....

I remember going to the Texas State Meet in 1986 with my friend Frank Arriola (El Paso Bel Air) who was competing in the 1600. I went to support Frank and also as a Track fan to watch the great Reuben Reina (San Antonio Jay) go for his 3rd straight 3200/1600 Championship. I watched Reina run an 8:58 to beat Eric Henry (McCullough/The Woodlands) and a 4:09 to beat John Holmes (South Houston). I thought it was the most amazing double. I was in awe. So to see German Fernandez double a 4:00/8:34 1600/3200 a couple weeks back just leaves me at a loss for words. He beat an 8:58 by almost 200 meters!!!!! Think about it.
Speaking of Texas runners we need to give our due to Colby Lowe. He ran an 8:47 for the All-time Texas #1. Nobody has stood out from Texas to the extent of Lowe since Reina. Lowe has left his mark all over the state.
Let the debate begin. Reina or Lowe? This old-timer will go with Reuben. Colby ran slightly faster times but Reuben had a kick for the ages. He didn't always have to run from the front. Reina faced great competition in Texas from the likes of Tim Gargiulo, John Holmes, and Eric Henry. He also dominated on a National level against guys like John Trautmann (NY) and the Mastalir Twins (CA). Reuben also won the Footlocker XC Nationals (then known as Kinney) in a Course Record time that stands to this day. That's right. This years crop (Fout, Derrick, Fernandez, Lowe, Puskedra, Cabral, etc) fell short as have many great XC runners over the years at San Diego's Balboa Park.
What will the future bring for Lowe? A memorable career I'm sure. Will he attain the same success as Reuben Reina/Alan Culpepper (both NCAA Champions, USATF National XC Champs and both Olympians)? I'm not sure. I do know watching him and German at the same school as Freshman should provide much discussion. Just wait for the discussion of Lowe Vs. Reina Vs Bobby Aguirre (El Paso Riverside) in XC. Never heard of Aguirre? You will soon.
I dug up an old picture I took at the 1986 State Meet of Reina sitting comfortably behind Eric Henry with Augie Flores (San Antonio Burbank) before making his move.