Emmaus junior Claudia Walls entered her third track and field season with her eyes set on a school record that stood for over 40 years.

The Hornet jumper was well aware of Jane Grim’s mark of 5 feet, 5 inches in the high jump set in 1983.

It only took a few meets into the 2025 season for Walls to become the new record holder.

She eclipsed the old record with a jump of 5 feet, 6 inches against Easton on March 25, setting her atop the school’s record books in the high jump event.

“My goal coming into junior year was to break the high jump record,” Walls said. “After making states last year, I knew being more consistent and continuing to be more precise with my technique was critical.”

Walls entered this season as a two-time East Penn Conference champ in high jump and a two-time district medalist. She qualified for states in 2024 for the first time and finished 19th at the meet.

This year’s mark of 5 feet, 6 inches in the high jump currently ranks her in the top three performers statewide.

Walls had taken her training to another level over the past two years, which included intense training at a facility in Kutztown called Garage Strength. That, along with fine-tuning her skills meet after meet, pushed her to reach new heights.

“I have been putting in the work at the gym,” Walls said. “The last two years I have been training at Garage Strength near Kutztown. In addition, I have been working with Olympic trial track coaches in New Jersey this past year. Along with my coaches at Emmaus, this approach has produced results in a positive way.”

While Walls set that personal-best mark in the high jump just about a month ago, the accomplishments didn’t stop there. Since then, she’s posted career-best marks in two other main jumping events as well.

“It definitely gave me an extra boost of confidence,” Walls said. “Since breaking that mark, I have had personal best jumps in both the long jump (17-7) and triple jump (35-6).”

With a few more meets left before the postseason gets underway, Walls is using the next couple of weeks honing those skills in hopes of putting together successful and memorable league, district and state meets.

“For me it’s all about the mindset,” Walls said. “My ultimate goal is to medal in all three jumps at leagues and districts, and also to place at states in the high jump. I’ve recently qualified for the New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia this summer and am really excited to compete in that meet.”