At the start of the season, Helias track and field coach Tim Rulo encouraged the Crusaders and Lady Crusaders to have the goal of getting better each week.
There's no reason for that to change this week as Helias gets ready for the Class 4 state championships, which start today at Adkins Stadium.
"Doing your best and getting a PR (personal record) is what we're looking for," Rulo said. "And we'll see what happens after that."
Emma Albertson of the Lady Crusaders will start the day for Helias, taking part in the girls shot put at 10 a.m.
Albertson won the district title two weeks ago with a school-record toss of 40-feet, 3.25 inches, then the senior broke the record again by winning the sectional title at 40-7.5.
"If she can do that again, I would be so happy for her," Rulo said.
Helias' other sectional title came in the boys 4x800-meter relay. The Crusaders won the district title with a time of 8:14.88 before knocking more than 12 seconds off that (8:02.85) to advance to state.
"I've told them you need to focus on getting a PR," Rulo said. "They ran a great race at sectionals last year, but weren't able to repeat that at state and I think that is a good source of motivation for them this year."
The boys 4x800-meter relay, a finals-only event, will begin at 10:30 a.m. today.
Today will be busy for the Crusaders and Lady Crusaders.
Also competing in the finals today is Tyler Schrimpf in the boys pole vault. Schrimpf was second in the sectional at 13-9 after taking second in districts at 13-6.
The event is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. start
Helias will also compete in four track preliminary events today, looking to advance to Saturday's finals.
At 11:10 a.m., Malik Davis will run in the boys 110-meter hurdles.
At 12:10 p.m., Anna Vollet will take part in the girls 100-meter dash.
At 2:55 p.m., Blake Veltrop will run in the boys 400-meter dash.
At 5:05 p.m., Vollet will participate in the girls 200-meter dash.
On Saturday, Weston Porter will throw in the boys javelin. The exhibition event will begin at 3:30 p.m.
"You always wish more kids make it, but the thing I've grown to love about Helias is you are always going to see great competition, whether it's during the regular season or in districts and at sectionals," Rulo said. "Because of that, you're going to get the best out of people."
Helias is familiar with the new state championship surroundings of Adkins Stadium.
"We've been to a lot of meets there, but there's something about state that is just a little different," Rulo said. "You get great competition and a lot of fans, it's always a great atmosphere.
"I was very pleased with the season, the kids really responded. And I think we can do the same thing at state."