On March 30, Friday Knight Relays  continue for the 18th year. At this event, a group of around 30 to 50 Track athletes from North are chosen to compete in 17 different types of track and field competitions against the top eight schools and runners in the state of Missouri.

“Its probably the biggest meet for FHN all year,” runner Brandon Chac said, “because it’s at home, and it’s our Varsity running.”

This night can be  challenging for the runners because rules change for this  meet. Despite this, the hurdling team has taken the gold 16 out of the last 17 years the competition has been going on. Also, the team has to learn new styles of relays that are never ran in any other meet in the state. New styles include making the competitions co-ed for more people to be included.

“I am really nervous,” hurdler Drake Kruep said, “because the heights on the hurdles are higher and I am running with some very talented runners.”

This meet was created by  coach Greg Hennenfent to show off the depths of schools athletes and to get more participants. When the first Friday Knight Relays began there was trouble finding other schools to get in the competition, but after the fifth year the competition exploded according to Hennenfent.

“I designed this night to be fun,” Hennefent said. “Now that it is more popular, I have a waiting list for schools from all over begging me to get into it. There’s just nothing like it.”

Hennenfent has an idea that he hopes would make the relays a little bit more exciting and funny. Every school has picked four coaches to run a 4×100 meter relay race. The coaches that were picked for North are Anthony Franz, John Brune, Greg Gaia and Katie Orr.

“I came up with this race for the fans,” Hennefent said. “It’s going to be hilarious watching Franz trying to run, but Brune is going to be the anchor and bring home the win.”