Walnut Hills Relay Team Breaks ECC Record in 4x100

The Walnut Hills High School girls junior high 4x100-meter relay team made history, breaking the Eastern Cincinnati Conference record in a thrilling performance that capped off a season of steady progress and hard work.

The 4x100-meter relay is a fast-paced track event in which four runners each sprint 100 meters, passing a baton in designated exchange zones. Precision, teamwork and speed are key, and Walnut delivered on all three.

“It feels awesome. It was actually unexpected,” said Taylor Swann, head junior high coach. “We’ve been close all year. In the moment, I thought, ‘I think we just broke the record.’ I checked the website to tell the officials.”

The Eastern Cincinnati Conference, or ECC, is one of Ohio’s premier athletic leagues, featuring some of the region’s top middle and high school programs. Setting a record in such a competitive field was no small feat.

“Track and field is like an outlet,” Swann said. “The student-athletes get to work to achieve something. They learn discipline, and it’s all about what you can do for yourself.”

With many of the athletes preparing to enter high school, Swann said she hopes they carry this momentum forward.

“I hope to see them stick with it. A lot of them are going to high school, so I hope they keep running and continue putting Walnut on the map.”

With a new ECC record in hand and their sights set on the future, Walnut Hills’ young runners are proving they’re built for both speed and success.