If Sam Henderson was to walk away from track & field today, we would still be talking about him decades from now.

On Saturday, Henderson won the Class AA State title in the triple jump. His winning mark, which came on his final jump, was 47 feet, 1 ½ inches. That was his fourth best jump of the season. His three best — including his personal record of 48-7 ½ at the Western AA Divisional meet the week before — would have placed fifth at the Big Sky Conference Championships.

He set and reset the Butte High School record several times in the triple jump.

He also placed third in the high jump by clearing 6-4. That came a week after he cleared 6-10 to win the Divisional title. That jump was three quarters of an inch shy of the Butte High record set by the great Jasson McNallie in 1989.

If Sam, who transferred from Butte Central after his sophomore year, was to walk away now, he’d go down as one of the all-time great Bulldogs.

The thing is, Sam is not done with track & field. Not even close.

Sam, who will graduate from Butte High on Thursday, will take his talents to the University of Montana, where he will chase championships for the Grizzlies.

He signed with the Grizzlies before he began his senior season for the Bulldogs. Then, Sam set the world on fire.

In one six-day stretch, Sam competed in the Harry “Swede” Dahlberg Invitational, the Russ Pilcher Top 10 Meet in Missoula and the 129th Penn Relays in Philadelphia. He won the triple jump Dahlberg and Top 10 before triple jumping to fifth place while competing with the best in the world in Philly.

He is believed to be the only high school athlete from Butte to compete in the prestigious event.

Listen in to this podcast, which was recorded in the Coaches’ Corner at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill, as Sam talks about winning the triple jump on his last attempt, and how he really wasn’t sweating in that much. Listen to what it is like to clear 6-10 in the high jump and soar that far in the triple jump.

Listen to why Sam started triple jumping in the first place, and what it was like to rub elbows with the very best at the Penn Relays.

Listen in to hear his plans for Los Angeles in 2028.

Today’s podcast is presented by Casagranda’s Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat.