For some the 2.5K Homecoming race wasn’t all fun and games.

“Our coach is out for blood,” said Nate Atkinson, sophomore computer information systems major and member of Eastern’s track team, before the race. “He’s 29 years old so he can still compete and he’s been running us hard this week so our legs are sore. If he wins, we won’t hear the end of it for months.”

After the race, Coach Eric Vetter, graduate assistant coach of the track team, was all smiles.

“We had a tough week and I took it easy the last three days so I could have a little edge up. It looks like it paid off.”

Vetter coaches the 800 squad and his goal was to beat at least one of them. He beat four of out his nine racers, placing fifth overall.

Atkinson was one of those who finished behind Vetter.

“There was a lot of good competition this year. It was a rough race, and we were hoping for a new course record but we didn’t get it,” Atkinson said, in regards to his track team.

Jeremy Wheeler’s goal was in line with Atkinson’s, a goal he accomplished by taking first place overall with a time of 7:42.

“I’m more of short distance guy so the mile and a half is a lot easier than running a ten-mile race,” said Wheeler after the race.

For his accomplishments he received a plaque, a case of water, and a $10 gift certificate to McDonald’s.

While a good chunk of the competitors were on Eastern’s track team, many students took part as well.

“It was very threatening in the beginning because you don’t think your going to go on but you keep going and it is awesome,” said Justin Lopez, junior recreation administration major.

When asked how he prepared for the race, Lopez responded, “I didn’t drink last night. That was my sacrifice.”

Besides the foot race, the competition also had two wheelchair contestants from the University of Illinois, Jennifer Scott and Anjali Forber-Pratt who were polar opposites when it came to preparing for the race.

“Somebody else from our school was supposed to do it and she was sick. I didn’t even bring my track clothes; I just jumped in my normal clothes and went,” Scott said.

Forcer-Pratt, on the other hand, had been training since the beginning of the year because she is on U of I’s track team.

Forcer-Pratt also spoke on the difference in track events and road events, like this race. “You’re out in different conditions so you have to learn to navigate foot traffic and the road itself and things like that.”

The competition also crowned the fastest female runner, which was Allison Slabach, a Charleston resident.

“The hill was bigger than it was last year, it seemed a little bit longer, but other than that it was great,” Slabach said. This is Slabach’s third year participating. Last year she finished second amongst females.

The race’s organizer John Henry Pommier, assistant physical education professor, noted that 95 runners pre-registered for the race, the largest the competition’s ever had.

“It sounds like the word is getting out there and people are registering in advance. It makes it easier on us.”