The Helias Crusaders and Lady Crusaders have increased their amount of qualifiers for the Class 4 state track and field championships.
Now they want to take as many as possible to make it a two-day experience as the championships start today at Adkins Stadium.
"We want lots of people competing Saturday," Helias coach Tim Rulo said. "That means we're making the finals and we'll take it from there."
Rulo believes the Crusaders and Lady Crusaders have already put in the work and it's time to reap the rewards.
"We don't want the state meet to cause us extra stress," he said. "We want to put our best foot forward at the state meet, we're looking for (personal records). If we can do that, then it will be a very successful weekend for us because we've given it everything we can give.
"We want to be relaxed, it's just another meet. We want to enjoy the experience and just do our thing."
Helias qualified a total of 20 athletes.
"If we can get 20 kids to go to state, you have to feel good about what you've accomplished," Rulo said. "As a coach, you want to take as many or more as you did the year before. And we've done that and that's exciting."
The Lady Crusaders have qualified in seven events.
Chloe Ramsey, a junior, enters state as the No. 1 seed in the pole vault after clearing 12-feet at last Saturday's sectional. That was a full foot better than anyone in Class 4 at sectionals.
"At the state level, you are facing better athletes, the best of the best," Rulo said. "Chloe has put in the work in the off-season vaulting at meets, this should be nothing new to her. I'm excited to see what she can do on the really big stage."
Rulo thinks Ramsey can better her sectional height in the event, scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. today.
"She's been working hard to get to 12-6, she's been close," he said.
Anna Vollet, also a junior, is in four events. She is the No. 4 seed in the long jump, scheduled for Saturday, as well as running in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the 4x100-meter relay. The running events will have their preliminaries today.
"She's so steady," Rulo said.
Vollet missed part of the regular season with a minor injury. But Rulo believes that has been a positive in the postseason.
"She's really fresh right now and I think she's poised to do some very good things," he said. "If she gets through the preliminaries and can compete in four events on Saturday, that means you're pretty good."
Also in the 4x100 are Ramsey and freshmen Emily Harrison and Hannah Loethen.
The Lady Crusaders are also in the 4x800-meter relay. The finals-only event is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today. The team of junior Abby Hakem, freshman Emma Veltrop, sophomore Ashley Eskens and senior Kayla Yanskey is seeded fourth.
Helias is also in the 4x400-meter relay. Running are freshman Morgan Yanskey, junior Alicia Engelbrecht, Veltrop and Kayla Yanskey.
The Crusaders will compete in four events at state.
Blake Veltrop, a sophomore, will be be in the preliminaries of the 400-meter dash today, while junior Auston Phillips will compete in the shot put beginning at 10 a.m. today.
Helias will also be in two relays - the 4x400 and the 4x800. The 4x800 will consist of senior Chandler Luebbert, freshman Jack Crull, junior Jacob Ceglinski and senior Joe Randazzo and will run at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The 4x400 will feature Ceglinski, senior Grant Bryan, Luebbert and Veltrop. The preliminary will be the final event today.
"We want to give our best efforts (today) and hopefully Saturday," Rulo said. "I just want the guys to have a great end to their season."