The Helias Crusaders and Lady Crusaders are realistic, they have a pretty good idea of what the team scores are going to look like for today's season opening trak and field dual against the Jefferson City Jays and Lady Jays.
It doesn't matter.
"Our first meet is a chance to finally get out and compete," Helias head coach Tim Rulo said. "It's going to be a chance to post some times, put down a baseline.
"We need to post some real times, post some real marks. And from there, it's a matter of trying to improve on those each week throughout the season. Jump higher, throw longer, go faster. And if we do that, points will start coming on the board."
Make no mistake, Helias would like to win. But the dual will be treated like an intense practice.
"It's like a time trial," Rulo said. "We've been working hard to get ready for a few weeks, it's your chance to go and show where you're at, show off the hard work you've done in the preseason."
Rulo is entering his first year as head track coach at Helias. It's a little different from when he took over football last fall - he's had the school year to meet and talk with students.
"I know more kids, I know more about them, I've been able to build relationships," Rulo said.
The Crusaders and Lady Crusaders have a little more than 100 athletes out for track and field this spring, with the boys leading the way with just under 60.
"A great thing is everyone has stayed," Rulo said. "We really haven't lost anybody and everybody seems excited to be out here."
Helias girls were 18th at the Class 4 state championships last year.
Kylie Frank, a junior, was fourth in the 800-meter run, finishing less than a second out of first.
Frank and junior Lanie Hentges also ran on the 4x800-meter relay team that finished seventh.
Other strong returners for Helias include Emma Albertson in the throws, Anna Volett in the sprints and Luci Francka in the longer dashes.
On the boys side, the Crusaders did not score at state last year.
Helias does return three of four runners on qualifying 4x800-meter relay team - senior Elliot Knernschield and juniors Chandler Luebbert and Joe Randazzo.
Knernschield is coming off an all-state season in cross country last fall.
"I know he has big goals and aspirations as a senior," Rulo said.
Among the other top returners for the Crusaders are Noah Blume in the high jump and Christian Duesenburg in the shot put.
"We have a lot of kids working hard who are trying to improve," Rulo said. "The kids are enjoying it and have done a good job at getting better."
Beside the usual aches and pains, the Crusaders and Lady Crusaders enter the season injury-free.
"We've been teaching about taking care of your body and staying injury-free," Rulo said.
Action will begin at 4 p.m. today at Adkins Stadium.
"We want to have a good feeling when it's done," Rulo said. "We know it's not going to be perfect, there are going to be mistakes.
"We're going to find out a lot (today). We have talented kids, we just need to see what we have and help us figure out what we're going to be doing down the road."
The Crusaders and Lady Crusaders will compete in seven Invitationals or Relays this season.
The district meet is scheduled for May 14 at Camdenton, with the sectional May 21 at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar. The state championships, now set for Adkins Stadium, will be held May 27-28.