Lordsburg to host 2026 Hidalgo County Relays Thursday, April 23

Lordsburg High School hosted the 2026 Hidalgo County Relays on Thursday, April 23, at Lordsburg HS Track, bringing together six Southwest New Mexico programs for one of the county’s most familiar spring meetups.

The teams list included Cobre High School of Bayard, Deming High School, Hot Springs High School of Truth or Consequences, Lordsburg High School, Reserve High School and Silver High School. For a rural county where schools often serve as the most visible gathering places outside county offices and health providers, that meant more than a standard day on the track. It meant visiting athletes, coaches and families moving through Lordsburg, reshaping the day around a countywide meet that kept competition close to home.

The relays also sat squarely in the middle of the outdoor season, when every sprint, jump and relay exchange can matter for district standings, regional seeding and team momentum. At Lordsburg, the meet gave the Mavericks a home-field setting instead of forcing local families to travel out of county for another spring contest. The official meet listing and venue history show why the event carries weight here: Lordsburg HS Track has repeatedly hosted the Hidalgo County Relays, including in 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018 and 2012.

Lordsburg’s track program went into the meet with head coach D.J. Saucedo leading the team, joined by coaches Jacob Ornelas, Albert Diaz and Louie Baisa. The school’s spring athletics structure also listed Principal Scott Roberson, Superintendent Dr. Steve Lucas and Athletic Coordinator Dale Hooper, names that underscore how many people have to line up for a county meet to run smoothly.

For Lordsburg, the relays were not just another date on the calendar. They were a repeat regional gathering at a familiar venue, a day when school pride, travel logistics and local routines all converged at the track. In a county where distance can turn even short trips into planning exercises, the relays gave families and students a centralized place to watch competition and keep spring sports visible at home.