Track was once never in the running for a spot in Herman Winston's athletic world.

Winston grew up in a football-baseball-wrestling family.

But he found out early in his Ledyard High School career that maybe he'd be better off pursuing another sport during the winter months.

"I went out for wrestling my first year and just got tossed all the time and thrown to the ground," Winston said. "I just decided wrestling wasn't my thing."

Winston never thought track was his thing either until one of his best friends convinced him to give indoor a try.

Since then, he's never looked back, except to see if a competitor is closing in on him during a meet.

In a breakthrough indoor season, Winston won Class M state titles in the 55- and 300-meter events. He was the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I champion in those two events and also ran a leg on the winning 4x180 relay team.

It all added up to Winston earning recognition as The Day's 2017 All-Area Boys' Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

"He just had an awesome indoor season," Ledyard coach Dave Tetlow said.

Winston's season would have been even better if not for some bad luck at the State Open. He rolled his ankle while running the 4x200 relay in his first event of the day, forcing him to sit out the 300. He still placed seventh in the 55 meters at 6.70 seconds.

He lost any chance to compete in the New England meet.

"It was a hard pill to swallow," Winston said. "It was hard to come so far and just come up a little short. It made me frustrated. But I knew that I wasn't done yet and I had outdoor season ahead of me."

The letdown didn't diminish Winston's overall accomplishments during indoor season.

Tetlow saw noticeable improvement in Winston from his junior to senior season. Already blessed with explosive speed, Winston polished his form. He also was more focused than ever before.

Winston also learned to listen and follow his coach's advice. Regular stretching became part of his routine.

"I ended up learning the hard way, but learning," Winston said.

The end result: Winston turned in some impressive performances. He wound up setting the school record in the 55 (6.51) in the Class M meet.

"He made a big improvement this year," Tetlow said. "As the season progressed, his times got faster and faster. He was winning against the best (sprinters). ... That's when he realized how well he actually was running."

It also took time for Winston to figure out that track was a good fit for him.

During his first indoor season as a sophomore, he became frustrated at times, especially when teammate Manny Deshields-Sanabria regularly beat him in the sprints. When Winston tried long jump, he accidentally spiked himself.

"I'd go to the bathroom and start tearing up and be so angry at myself and said I'm not doing outdoor track," Winston said. "Then I realized winning wasn't everything and track was more like a family. They wanted to see me do better not just in track but in life.

"I slowly and surely found out track was for me."

Winston still had one more hurdle to clear.

Prior to the spring season of his junior year, Winston had to muster up the courage to tell his mother that he no longer wanted to play baseball.

His mother was caught by surprise, asking him why he wanted to do track instead. Winston explained that baseball was too slow.

Now he's the one who's surprised.

"I ended up being better than I thought I could be in track," Winston said.

Winston is hoping to compete in college either at Central Connecticut State University or Southern Connecticut State University.

First, he has one more season left. He's determined to leave his mark and help Ledyard achieve its goals.

"I try to hold myself to the highest standards whether brushing my teeth every night or doing homework or running track," Winston said. "Whatever I'm doing, I want to do the best I can do it."

His family is a track family now.

His sister Tajeah, a freshman, competes on the girls' team. His parents are regulars at meets.

"I'm happy doing what I'm doing right now," Winston said. "I'm happy with my senior year and humbled by everything and ready to finish my last season of track."

g.keefe@theday.com

The Day's 2017 All-Area Boys' Indoor Track & Field Team

Player of the Year – Herman Winston (Ledyard) 

300 meters, long jump – Dylan Hatajik (East Lyme)

600 – Nik Strickland (Montville)

1,000 – Nick Fitch (NFA)

1,600, 3,200 – Brandon Mehlinger (NFA)

55 hurdles – Cam Whalen (Stonington)

4x200 relay – Ledyard (Herman Winston, James Smith, Andrew Laconico, Travon Brown)

4x400 relay – Montville (Nick Donnell, Van Heller, Greg Clark, Nik Strickland)

4x800 relay – Ledyard (Sean Healy, Ian Kamperschroer, Zak King, Nate McCracken)

Sprint medley relay – Fitch (Adrian Albo, Chris Holmes, Alex Schwindt, Matt Kerst)

High jump – Devin Craig (Waterford)

Pole vault – Chris Weir (NFA)

Shot put – Dmitri Van Duine (Stonington)

Utility – Danny Cole (Old Lyme), Collin Wiltshire (Ledyard)