In 1968 / 69 John was instrumental in merging the Zuni Elementary School Cross Country Team and Aspen/Zuni Elementary Track & Field team into the Duke City Dashers. From 1969 to 1982 the age group track and cross country teams of the Dashers won many, many national team titles, records, and individual titles. In 1971 the Dashers was the first age group team to win 4 team titles (9 & under, 10-11,12-13,14-15). The accomplishments of this group of athletes resulted in a book called "A Shining Season" by Bill Buchannon.
John took the success at the age group level to the high school level, where he has been the Cross Country and Track Coach at Del Norte High School in Albuquerque since 1984. His Girl's Track and Field teams have won 5 District Championships and the 1990 State Track Runner-ups. His success at the high school level has earned for him Track Coach of Year by New Mexico Coaches Association and the Coaches Association Level 1 Award in 1995. In 1996 John was named the NHSACA Region 8 Track & Field Coach of the Year.
Operations Committee
Girls General Selection Chair
Spencer Sielschott
815 Calle Fuerte NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
Phone (505) 293-5505
Cell: (505) 220-4866
Boys General Selection Chair
Blaine Clarke
1405 Childers Drive NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112
Phone: (505) 294-1511 (work)
Fax: (505) 293-4113 (& home)
Mobile: (505) 263-7599
What qualifications would be posted for the position of Chairman for the Southwest Classic? That was the question facing the Southwest Classic Association in 1987 in their search for a Girls Selection Chairman from New Mexico. The answer was find a 'track and field nut', who subscribes to all the major track and running magazines, and got hooked on the sport of track, watching track meets at University of New Mexico's Track Stadium as early as the 7th grade.
For the past 15 years that "track and field nut", John Haaland, has served as the Girl's Selection Chairman for the Great Southwest Classic. John has been contributing to the sport of track and field, and cross country in New Mexico, since the late 1960's.
