Horsemen, Trotters track teams continue to improve in Frenchtown

In virtually every track event, Plains boys, girls track members gleefully run to coach Denise Montgomery and inform her about their PRs.

Montgomery has stated this has become a common occurrence.

Her team’s fared no differently in the Kim L Haines Memorial track meet Saturday at Frenchtown High School.

“We aren’t winning every meet but we are improving,” Montgomery said. “Right now, that is all we are aiming for at this point is to just keep getting better.”

Once again, Plains had several notable performances out of the Horsemen track team including Rusty Stuart, Sinjin LeDeaux, Malachi Paulsen, Nathan McNulty, and the relay team all had strong performances, Montgomery said.

The Horsemen’s most seasoned athlete Sinjin LeDeaux, who was hampered a cold, didn’t let that deter him from having solid performances.

“He did well and was actually sick all week and coming off an ankle injury,” Montgomery said. “He didn’t work his whole schedule in but competed well in the jumping events again.”

LeDeaux PRed in the long jump leaping to 19 feet, 4.5 inches. In the triple jump he levitated to 38 feet, 11 inches, and was part of a relay team that consisted of Luke Lile, McNulty, and Paulsen that recorded a time of 49.49 seconds.

McNulty also had strong showings in the 400 and 800, and contributed to the 4X100 relay team that PRed as well. McNulty recorded a time of 1 minute, 1.54 seconds in the 400-meters. Then, in the 800-meters he finished with a time of 2 minutes, 28.75 seconds.

McNulty, was also a member of the 4X400 relay team that finished 10th with a time of 4 minutes, 13.57 second and included members Wiley Scribner, Luke Lile, and Daniel Uli.

“It is really great to see them come together as a team and have fun,” Montgomery said. “All of the training is really starting to pay off.”

Trotters’ tracksters

finish strong

Montgomery again said she was “pleased” with the performances of several of her Trotters’ track team members on Saturday at Frenchtown High School.

Montgomery noted the improvement of Hiley Cole at the Trotters’ latest event.

Cole participated in the throwing events including shot put, discus, and the javelin. Cole placed 13th in shot put with a throw of 29 feet, 3.5 inches, in discus she threw a cumulative of 101 feet, 1 inches and had her PR in the javelin with a throw of 89 feet, 7 inches.

“She is starting to come on and is consistently improving her throws,” Montgomery said. “This is her first year of doing that and she just keeps getting stronger and more confident in throwing events. That really helps us with our team scores.”

Hurdler and sprinter Cree Lulac continues to improve. Lulac PRed in the 400-meters with a time of 1 minutes, 9.13 seconds, a personal record.

She followed it with another PR in the 100-meter hurdles. She finished 17th with a time of 19.04 seconds. She also participated in the 300-meter hurdles recording a time of 54.23 for a ninth place finish, and leaped to 12 feet, 3 inches in the long jump.

Freshman Kylie Altmiller is now starting to realize some of her potential, according to Montgomery. Altmiller participated in four events including triple jump, long jump, high jump, and javelin. Altmiller recorded a throw of 92 feet, 4 inches, a personal record for the freshman in the javelin.

“She is starting to come on now and that is really good see because she is very talented,” Montgomery said. “She has a lot of potential there. She just has to put it all together and relax because transitioning from middle school to high school is a big jump for a track athlete.”

Montgomery noted her improvement in the high jump finishing ninth with a throw of 4 feet, 8 inches.

“Her jumps have gotten more commanding and she had good jumps in the long jump and triple jump,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery also noted the performance of Analisa Loberg. Loberg finished 8th in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 54.09 seconds, and finished 9th in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5 minutes, 57.67 seconds.

Jess Thompson also PRed in the discus with a throw of 124 feet, 5 inches and captured a first place finish. Thompson also threw 113 feet, 6 inches finishing fifth in the javelin, and finished second in the shot put with a throw of 37 feet.

“She was again frustrated with her performance and she didn’t feel she performed her best,” Montgomery said. “However, as a two-sport spring athlete, she is asking a lot of her body and her mind. She knows she can’t really expect her best performance when she is worn out and even then, she continues to do well. She is a really good person to have on your team. She contributes to the team with her athleticism and drive, that’s for sure.”

Horsemen, Trotters prep for Divisionals

Plains boys, girls track coach Denise Montgomery expressed optimism in her teams’ abilities as they prepare to head to the Class-C boys, girls Divisional track meet Thursday at Polson High School.

“We are just really hoping that we continue to improve,” Montgomery said. “We do what we’ve been doing and the kids should have a good meet.”

Montgomery said she is putting an emphasis to her team that the event is “like any other meet.”

“It really is just like any other day ,” Montgomery said of the meet. “(I’m trying) to get them to think like that, take the pressure off of themselves, and achieve our goal.”