The first time I covered a track meet at Eastern, I was so nervous about what to do and where to go.

I remember walking up the steps that led into the indoor track, fearing for my life that the runners would trample over me as I crossed the track.

And then keeping count of the athletes’ laps as they competed in the long distance races was probably just as scary, because I had to double check, no, triple check how many laps were left in each event.

Walking up to athletes and asking them about their performances was equally terrifying. I thought, “What if they think my questions are stupid? What if they think I hadn’t done enough research?”

I was worried they would think I wasn’t qualified to cover track and field.

But after attending meets and reporting on them, I’ve come to the realization that track and field is, cliche aside, a field of dreams.

These athletes don’t have a ball or net to score in. They have themselves, and although they’re competing in events that seem simple — running, jumping, throwing — these athletes work themselves to the core.

I’ve heard people who aren’t familiar with track and field say that it’s a boring sport. But I don’t see anything boring about a distance runner straining his or her body while racing against the clock.

I’ve seen crowds go silent as Jade Riebold and Mick Viken pick up their poles and position themselves as they are about to prepare to run down a stretch, and I’ve seen them light up after watching these vaulters clear a bar successfully.

I’ve witnessed hurdler Jalisa Paramore exhaust herself as she jumps over hurdle after hurdle to reach the finish, and the pain on thrower Jared Diaz’s face when he participates in the weight throw and shot put.

At the Ohio Valley Conference Championships in track and field, Bryce Basting slid to the finish line to ensure himself of a top spot in his event. He ended up taking second place. It’s these little victories and special moments that make me feel really blessed to be able to cover this sport.

I’ve also had the opportunity to interview some of these athletes, and they have shared their shortcomings and victories with no reservations.

Distance runner Britney Whitehead said that for a long time she coached herself before she came to college, and she explained to me that every time she races, she surprises herself the most. Jade Riebold told me about how she struggled to pick up a pole and vault after she was denied entry into the U.S. Olympic Trials.

I’m a track junkie. Track is a sport like no other where miracles happen all the time, whether a vaulter clears the vault half an inch taller or runner runs a second faster.

Jaime Lopez can be reached at 581-2812 or jlopez2@eiu.edu.