Membership in Pennsylvania's exclusive 50-Foot Club in the girls' shot put was due to grow.
It simply was a matter of time.
On Saturday in Ohio, Shenango's (PA) Emma Callahan added her name to that short list of the Keystone state's all-time shot put stars with a new PR 50 feet, 0.75 inches. She is the fourth member of the club indoors, and her new lifetime best is PA#4 all-time undercover, with East Juniata's Heather Colyer No. 1 at 52-5.75 from 1997.
"Hitting 50 has been such a long-term goal of mine, so to finally hit it feels amazing," Callahan said. "I haven't been hitting 50 consistently in practice, but I have been consistently gaining higher marks during practice."
As a freshman in 2019, the future Iowa Hawkeye topped 40 (and 41) feet both indoors and out. Always a solid performer at Youngstown State, Callahan hit 47-11 at the Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS) as a sophomore before the global pandemic brought all sports to a virtual halt.
The Wildcat senior had a solid series yesterday, with six legal throws and all measuring over 46 feet. A 46-2.5 opener was Callahan's shortest mark of the day, with 46-9 and 48-4.5 puts qualifying her as the top thrower heading into finals.
She opened the final rounds at 46-5, hit her new career best in round 5 and closed out the shot put competition with a 48-footer.
"My next big goal is 16 meters," Callahan said of projecting a 4-kilogram orb 52 feet, 6 inches. "Hopefully, I will be able to achieve that by the end of outdoor."
Callahan now leads the national rankings by more than 3 feet, with Faith Mitchell of Houston St. Agnes second at 46-11. Callahan is also US No. 11 in the weight throw after her 48-4 winner yesterday.
Hempfield Area's Elizabeth Tapper topped 46 feet for the third time this indoor season on Saturday at the WATTS and shares US#3 with Wisdom Williams of Virginia at 46-5.
Only five shot putters nationally have topped 45-0 through the first weekend in February.
According to the MileSplit rankings, Callahan is now US No. 25 all-time indoors. Outdoors, the 50-foot national list currently has 54 names.
Outdoors for PA throwers, PA MileSplit lists five performers with at least one 50-footer, and Souderton Area's Maria Deaviz leads the way at 53-0.25.