The 40th Annual Luke’s Locker Six-Mile Relay was held on Saturday, Aug. 23, at Norbuck Park. Unlike traditional meets where runners compete individually, this event is entirely team-based.  

Each team consists of four runners, each completing the same 1.5-mile loop. Together, they cover a total distance of six miles. 

“Early on, when there weren’t a lot of meets around, [Luke’s Locker] was the kickoff meet for schools in the Texas and Oklahoma area,” said Head Coach of Cross-Country, Jason Yaffe.  

Not only does Greenhill serve as the host school for the meet, but Yaffe has served as the meet director for nearly 20 years. 

The course is known for its hay bale jumps, a unique feature that runners and spectators have come to enjoy. 

“There’s hay bales that you jump over, so that just kind of adds to the fun and competitiveness of it,” said junior Lilly Williams.  

Williams, who ran the first leg for Greenhill, delivered a standout performance by recording a personal best opening split.  

“My goal was to get out strong and give my team the lead,” said Williams. “The past two years I didn’t hand off first, so seeing that improvement this season was really special.” 

The Greenhill girls’ team placed fourth out of 19 teams, while the boys’ team finished ninth out of 25. With strong finishes and the excitement of the event’s milestone anniversary, the relay set a positive tone for the rest of the cross-country season. 

“It’s a good way to get back into the groove of racing and show off what we’ve been working towards all summer,” said Williams.