[Note: To see this photo essay as an audio slideshow, click here.]

IF YOU NOTICED a crowd in the first-floor hallway during lunch today, it wasn't because of a pizza sale. This time the congestion was caused by senior Michelle Mehnert and her cross country treammates, who had an appointment with coach Doug Mynatt.

Last week Mynatt agreed to let Mehnert shave his head if she finished in the top five at the Class 1A girls cross country state meet in Peoria.

On Saturday, running the 3-mile course at Detweiller Park, Mehnert set both a personal record and a school record by placing third overall with a time of 17 minutes, 58 seconds.

The time was a personal best, and her finish was the highest ever by a Uni cross country runner in the state finals. The previous best was Adam Reynolds' fifth-place finish in the 1997 boys meet.

Mehnert and her teammates gave their coach his new hairstyle during lunch today in the first-floor hallway. A crew from local TV station WCIA also dropped by to record the event.

This was the second time Mynatt lost his hair because of a challenge he made with a Uni runner. The first time was back in 1997 after Reynolds' top-five performance.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

With onlookers waiting, Mynatt gets ready to live up to his part of the bargain with Mehnert (directly behind him).

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

First the ubiquitous University of Tennessee hat comes off.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Then Mehnert begins.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Senior team member Samantha Nguyen joins in.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Senior Shivani Khanna, one of Uni's top runners the last four years, contributes.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Junior Elaine Gu takes a little off the top.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Sophomore Elizabeth Russell crops some more.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Sophomore Britanny Scheid takes her turn.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Mehnert is the second Uni runner to cause Mynatt to lose his hair.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Adam Reynolds won a similar challenge in 1997 when he placed fifth in the boys state meet.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Sophomore Isaure Hostetter seems to be having fun.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Scheid keeps on cutting.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Mehnert nears the end.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Nguyen gets in a few more cuts.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Mehnert, like her predecessor Reynolds, is a top-caliber swimmer as well as a runner.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Mehnert hopes to swim competitively in college.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Getting closer.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

The new look.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Mynatt talks with a reporter from local TV station WCIA.

Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski (click to enlarge)

Done.