Plains track prepares for state meet

Plains boys, girls track coach Denise Montgomery said the end of the track season is always a “bittersweet” time because of the mixture of successes and failures culminated with the ending of another season.

“The Frenchtown meet was a great meet and it was kind of bittersweet,” Montgomery said. “It was bittersweet for the athletes that didn’t make it to state but there were several participants that PRed and again, all of our kids continued to improve on their times.”

Montgomery, a coach accustomed to having multiple state qualifiers and placers, admits she is in a “rebuilding year” with several young athletes that she says all have potential.

“We aren’t just inexperienced but also young in age this year,” Montgomery said.

The Plains boys, girls team qualified several competitors in individual events including Sinjin LeDeaux, who qualified in the triple jump and high jump. Trotter teammate Jessica Thompson, qualified in shot, discus and javelin.

Kara Altmiller also prequalified at discus even though she didn’t place in the Western Class B-C Divisional meet Thursday and Friday at Frenchtown High School.

Rusty Stuart qualified and PRed in the shot put with a throw of 41 feet, 0.5 inches. Like Stuart, Hailey Coe also PRed in the discus with a throw of 102 feet, 3 inches.

One of the Trotters’ top competitors and favored by many to be a state placer, Thompson will now be able to focus specifically on track now that the softball season has concluded. Thompson, who has played both softball and run track in the spring, will now have less distractions as she heads into the Class A-C track and field meet Friday and Saturday at Laurel High School.

“I think this will benefit her because her mind will be in one place,” Montgomery said. “She’s done a good job, is a strong athlete and is able to compartmentalize and focus on each competition but I think some of the push on her has been schedule wise. Now, she doesn’t have to worry about being in two different places.”

Montgomery said Thompson also adds to the team dynamic in combination with her ability to perform.

“She adds to more than just performance,” Montgomery said. “She is a really good kid and contributes a lot to the team in other ways.”

Montgomery said she has “high aspirations” for all of her competitors involved with track.

“Rusty Stuart qualified in the shot put and that was really good to see him do that for the first time out as a sophomore,” Montgomery said. “He just muscles his way through events. He is still working on his technique but he just power throws a jab and uses his brute strength to get the implements out there. Once his technique starts coming into form, he’s going to be great. It’ll be fun to watch that develop over the next couple of years.”

For Stuart, a sophomore, and Coe, experiencing the bright lights of state will be new, according to Montgomery.

“I am super excited from him and Hailey and hope they have a good experience and not let the pressure and the newness of being at state get to them,” Montgomery said.

Of all of the competitors, Thompson is the most experienced and based on her results is expected to bring home some hardware.

“Jess is just super consistent at discus and shot and hopefully, she will be placing in the jav,” Montgomery said. “If she is not at the top of the jav, hopefully we can get her placed on the podium somehow.”

Montgomery said qualifying for state is an “honor.”

“It is such an honor to say that you are competing at the state level,” Montgomery said. “Once our kids experience state, it will be a lot easier next going because it won’t be unknown to them. At state, the coaches are removed from the athletes and the coaches aren’t with you the whole time like in a regular meet. The atmosphere is just way different.”