LAHS Girls Cross Country Coach Lindsey Montoya at the 2025 Los Alamos home meet in October. Photo courtesy of Blake Wood.
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
Los Alamos High School Girls Cross Country Coach Lindsey Montoya has been selected as the 2025 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 honor is based upon your leadership and the success of the Cross Country team throughout the season,” noted Sam Seemes, CEO of the USTFCCCA. “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.
“I am honored to receive this recognition,” Coach Montoya said. “This award truly reflects the dedication, character, and commitment of our athletes. As coaches, we are incredibly proud of
this group because they exemplify what it means to be selfless, team-first competitors. They consistently support one another, lead with compassion, and keep the success of the team at the center of everything they do.”
She added, “Coach Steven Montoya and I serve as co–head coaches and are fortunate to be supported by outstanding assistant coaches, dedicated families, and a strong, supportive community. Our athletes did the hard work, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be part of their journey.”
The LAHS Girls’ Cross Country team won the 2025 4A State Championship last November. Montoya has coached the girls’ cross country team for the past seven years, first as an assistant coach and then taking over as head coach in 2023. She also served as the middle school coach for two years.
“We strive for LAPS student athletes to have a ‘best in-class experience’ and Lindsey has proven to do this daily,” said Athletic Director Guy Meyer. “Her process-oriented coaching, commitment to student success and sincere holistic care for each of her athletes is unequaled. Congrats on your program success and recognition as the 2025 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Coach of the Year.”
The USTFCCCA is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches. The organization has over 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.