Every frame tells a story — and at the 2024 Division 3 Track & Field State Finals, those stories moved fast.

Held under perfect early summer skies, this year’s meet brought together some of the state’s most determined athletes, each fighting for a place on the podium — and in history. I had the opportunity to photograph every emotion from that day: the quiet intensity before a starting gun, the blur of spikes rounding the curve, the raw joy of a personal best, and the heartbreak that sometimes comes just inches short. Track and field is one of my favorite events to cover. There’s a rhythm to it — the pulse of the crowd, the cadence of a relay exchange, the brief, suspended silence of a long jumper in flight. My goal with this shoot was to capture not just the action, but the energy — the split-second decisions, the celebration of teamwork, and the stories unfolding in every lane and infield corner.

Whether it was the grit in the 3200m, the explosive launch of the shot put, or the chaotic magic of the 4x100 relay, I made it my mission to preserve each moment with clarity and emotion.