Orange Lutheran senior Shane Plourde is leaving his mark in the record books as a standout sprinter for the Lancers. And while he didn't begin high school with the intent of being a runner, he has found a sport that fits his work ethic and competitive nature.
 
Plourde joined OLu's track and field program his sophomore year and quickly connected with his teammates. He competes in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4 x 100 events, but his specialty is the 400-meter and 4 x 400 relay. His training for these sprint events has taught him that when it comes to running, his improvement in the sport is directly related to the effort, time and dedication he invests in it.
 
"I like seeing all that hard work pay off in the races," says Plourde. "It was fun when I started doing track because I started to know a lot of people and make a lot of friends."
 
As one of this year's captains for the Lancers, Plourde makes sure to be available to answer questions and help streamline communication between the coaches and the athletes. His goal this season is to take over the school's top spot in the 400-meter event, and the three-year varsity runner might just accomplish that before the season ends.
 
"Shane defines hard work paying off, and he shows up every day with a good attitude," says OLu track and field head coach Kevin Gillian. "He currently has the 2nd fastest time in school history (in the 400-meter race) and may be number one at the end of the season."
 
Plourde and his teammates – seniors Alex Vasquez and Van Rhodus, and freshman Jae Nembhard – recently took first place in the 4 x 400 meter relay at the prestigious Stanford Invitational. It's an accomplishment he hopes the Lancers will continue to see at future meets.
 
"I like seeing our name up on the leaderboard," says Plourde. "And I'd like to see more of that for OLu."
 
Off the track, Plourde is currently serving as senior class president and is in his second year as a member of ASB. He also earned his Eagle Scout award last year by supporting Trinity Lutheran Church in Anaheim with garden projects. He enjoys hands-on building and tinkering with everything from pulse jet engines to cassette tape players.
 
Running has taught the 18-year old that the camaraderie of training together as a team and pushing your body to its limits brings a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment within the sport.
 
"You don't really know what your body's capable of until you try," says Plourde.
 
Standing on the starting line moments before a race can bring a mix of emotion, anxiety and energy for Plourde. But he leans on his faith and the song "Stand By Me" to help calm his fears, and he focuses on the fact that his training has prepared him for these moments.
 
"I know God is with me in every race," says Plourde.
 
Plourde is hoping to continue his running career by competing at the collegiate level, and he plans to study construction management or pre-law. He is grateful for the support of his family, and he credits the guidance he has received from former Lancers and Coach Gillian for helping him get to where he is today.
 
"My parents and grandpa…I'm glad they support me," says Plourde. "I get a lot of advice from former teammates, and I like my coach a lot. He's helped me out quite a bit, more than I ever imagined."