New Mexico will honor some of its most accomplished athletes, coaches, and sports figures later this month as the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame inducts its newest class.
The Hall of Fame announced that five individuals representing four sports will join its distinguished ranks. The 2025 class includes Olympic silver medalist Courtney Frerichs, basketball standout Anita Maxwell, legendary football coach Miles Watters, golf coach John Fields, and former quarterback Landry Jones.
According to Hall of Fame officials, each inductee has made significant contributions to New Mexico’s athletic legacy through achievements at the high school, collegiate, national, and international levels. Their accomplishments span multiple decades. Moreover, they have helped bring recognition to the state’s sports community.
Frerichs received national attention for her incredible achievements as a distance runner at the University of New Mexico. She led the Lobos to the 2015 NCAA Team Championships. Also, she won a silver medal in the 3000-meter steeplechase at this year’s Tokyo Olympics. This made her the first American woman to run a sub-9 minute 3000m steeplechase.
One of the most successful athletes in the history of New Mexico State’s women’s basketball program, Maxwell was the first female NCAA player to amass 2,500 career points, 1,000 career rebounds, and 300 career steals. Additionally, she is the only Aggie women’s basketball player to have her jersey number retired.
Watters has a long history of coaching success in New Mexico and holds the record for the most wins by a coach in the state. He coached 11 state championship football teams at Clayton High School. In addition, he accumulated 526 career victories over more than 30 years in coaching. Fields also had an impressive career. He coached UNM’s golf program to 9 NCAA Championships and received many national awards for his accomplishments as a coach.
The induction ceremony begins at 5 p.m. on June 27 at the Clyde Hotel in downtown Albuquerque. Hall of Fame officials said the event will celebrate athletes and coaches whose achievements have left an enduring impact on sports in New Mexico and serve as a reminder of the state’s rich athletic history.