The meet took place in the so-called “electric forest,” where NCAA champions, sponsored professionals, and Olympians lined up for their final tune-up before the U.S. Outdoor Championships in Eugene. With spots for the Tokyo World Championships on the line, the energy was sharp and focused. This was also my last race of the season; the men’s 5000m; so while I was focused on my own preparation, I was only able to capture a handful of moments. My girlfriend, a talented photographer herself, covered the rest, giving us a joint perspective of the event both from inside the race and around it. In editing the photos, I focused on making the bold colours of the uniforms stand out and emphasizing the athletes themselves. I kept tones natural, pulling detail out of the twilight lighting while sharpening contrast just enough to highlight motion and expression. The goal was to show the raw emotion of track and field; from the joy of crossing the line first to the weight of defeat.