Legs shaking, heart pounding out of control, it’s time to start the race. Ready, set, go as the gun fires. Runners push off their blocks to the finish line, it’s win or lose this time.

Season starts officially for EC track and field team competing in their first scoring tri-meet against Cuyamaca and Orange Coast College took place on Feb. 14 at Orange Coast College.

While the men’s team came home with a win, the women’s team lost. Although the women’s team did not win due to the low number of runners they had. The woman that were there placed in most of the events they participated in.

“Transitioning from cross-country to track will be a challenge,” Haley Heinemann, freshman, distance runner said. “I am not used to running sprints of anything more than 5k (3 miles) but I plan on doing my best in my events.”

Instead of spending their time with lover on Valentines day, the team did their best competing by performing their personal best while many placed top three and scored for the team.

Sean Shiel, assistant track coach said that the team is full of positive hard working athletes that will progressively do better each meet.

But being full of freshman and new runners, the track team will continue to set goals and score their best with the talent they have yet to fully unleash.

“It’s been four years since I ran competitively in high school,” Heinemann said. “I run to stay in shape, but I race to win.”

While many scored and placed in the top three for their events, others have a ways to go when it comes to being a top competitive runner.

Iyasu Kelbisow, freshman, distance runner said although he ran well he could have done better. “I am just out of shape and it showed today during the last stretch of my event. I just got to put a lot miles in, 60 to 70 more miles a week to get ready to truly compete.”

For having a week break before the next track meet the coaches plan on training harder to get them ready for the season.

Sheil said it’s too early to know who the top runners will be. “It wont be until later in the season to see the true potential of these athletes.”

Many of the scorers from the previous meet on Feb. 7, won or placed in the top three for their events. The next meet will be a Decathlon Event where athletes compete in multi-events in track and field.

“I love my team. They are so encouraging,” Heinemann said that she enjoys being on the EC track team because they are the sisters she never had.