LeDeaux builds Horsemen track team by himself

Plains track and field runner Sinjin LeDeaux felt the need to maintain and fuel the competitive edge he thought was dwindling last season as the lone track participant on the boys team.

Though LeDeaux remained stellar, competing in a total of four events including the 400-meter relay, 400-meter dash, high jump, long jump and triple jump, he said he felt a void as the only Horseman competing. The Trotters’ girls track team fielded an entire team last season.

“It wasn’t too bad last year going through a team with the girls,” LeDeaux admitted. “However, it was kind of lonely and there weren’t enough guys to push me.”

LeDeaux said he enjoyed the “lack of stress” but also felt the need to fuel his desire to compete.

“It was nice because the competition I had was with myself and I didn’t have the stress of trying to be better than one teammate to another,” LeDeaux said. “I really felt like I could improve with at least two to four guys out there and I ended up getting ten to come out for track.”

LeDeaux took a proactive approach towards helping field a full team for the start of the 2016-2017 season and his pitch to his prospective teammates was simple: “’You should try this sport. It’ll get you in shape and you will get a nice six pack.’”

“It took me a while but I was determined to recruit,” LeDeaux said. “I spent all the way until about basketball season recruiting. I came up to some random freshmen who did track last year and asked them if ‘they were doing track this year?’ Others I had to do more convincing.”

Plains head track coach Denise Montgomery said she “isn’t surprised” that LeDeaux was able to recruit an entire track team by himself.

“This is his third year out for track and last year he was the only guy on our team,” Montgomery said. “I guess he got tired of hanging out with the girls. He wanted to be part of a relay team. I think he was just really determined and worked on building it all year. Track is the kind of sport where you either have to love to run or be OK throwing because there just isn’t a lot of people that like to run.”

Montgomery said she felt LeDeaux was able to be successful because of his ability to sell and maintain the majority of the track team he recruited.

“I am not totally sure how he is able to convince people of a lot of things,” Montgomery said. “There is just something in his smile. It’s been great. All of the kids he recruited ended up being fantastic to work with. They are really good kids, polite and they have some talent. The freshmen ones that we’ve added have really made a difference. They’ve been nice additions to our team.”

Montgomery said she felt having a workout partner really helps in a sport like track that requires self efficacy.

“I think sometimes it’s important to have a workout partner and someone to push you,” Montgomery said. “You can have someone push you as hard as you can to both. Nathan pushes him in the 400 and Malachi Paulsen pushes him in the jump. He is used to being around girls as he is one of four siblings so it probably wasn’t a big torture but he was probably pretty happy to have some guys to hang out with.”

LeDeaux, now part of two relay teams, said having some teammates around has made a difference.

“It is a lot more fun to have some guy friends at track meets instead of walking around with a bunch of girls,” LeDeaux said. “That was nice too but it is always nice to have a bro to hang out with. This year has been a lot more fun. Last year, I didn’t have anyone to get excited to compete with in the triple jump, long jump, and talk about divisional. This year, we are talking about possibly making it out of districts and divisionals. It’s fun talking about that with my teammates.”

At Polson this season, LeDeaux captured one first place finish in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.91 seconds. He has also posted a personal record at Frenchtown with a time of 56.55, and more personal records in the triple jump, leaping 39 feet, 8 inches, and the long jump, elevating to 18 feet, 11 inches.

LeDeaux said he is now “focused” on qualifying for state in the triple and long jump. At this time of year, things have amplified in intensity according to LeDeaux.

“It has become a focus at every meet,” LeDeaux said. “At the beginning of the year, you kind of mess around with your friends. At these upcoming meets, I have to take it more seriously and start focusing and getting mentally prepared to compete.”

Reporter Jason Blasco can be reached at (406) 883-4343 or jblasco@leaderadvertiser.com.