After everything she’s accomplished in her high school running career, Mady McCartney wanted to finish her last local race with a win at last week’s District 11 Championships.

When Liberty’s Elizabeth McClarin slipped ahead of the Emmaus senior heading into the final lap of the 1600-meter run last Wednesday at Whitehall High School, McCartney waited for just the right time to retake the lead.

When she made her move on the backstretch, McCartney left McClarin far behind, finishing the race in 4:55.45 with the Hurricane sophomore coming in at 5:01.52.

“She’s a great, great runner,” McCartney said of McClarin. “She pushed me a lot at leagues and she pushed me in this race too.

“I was just going to stay on her and start my kick whenever I know I could. My glutes were hurting for sure, but I was sprinting. I was surprised I had that kick left in me.”

McCartney was one of three Emmaus athletes who earned gold medals at last week’s district championships, held Tuesday and Wednesday, May 12-13, at Whitehall.

Senior Claudia Walls picked up the third District 11 high jump gold medal of her high school career, while also earning a medal in triple jump. Senior Robert Edwards earned his first district gold when he took first place in shot put.

McCartney, the 2025 PIAA cross country champ and a second-place finisher in the 3200 at last year’s state track and field championships, won last week’s District 11 3200 in 10:55.96.

Walls cleared 5 feet, 3 inches to tie for first place in high jump with Ella Schweitzer of Notre Dame (Green Pond). She cleared all three heights (4-11, 5-1 and 5-3) on the first attempt.

“I feel pretty good,” Walls said. “I wish I would have cleared 5-5. I’m still happy with how I did.”

In triple jump, Walls leaped a career best 38-5 1/2 feet for second place. Alexa Giuffre-Cuculletto (Pottsville) won the event at 38-7.

“I feel really good about the way I triple jumped,” said Walls. “I jumped 38-5, which is like a foot PR for me.”

Edwards, a Richmond University football recruit, threw the shot put 53 feet, 1 inch to take first place over Lehighton’s Bodie Hawk (50-7).

“It was a pretty good day,” Edwards said. “I was hoping to throw a little bit more. I’m glad to come away with a win.”

A year ago Edwards took fourth place at his first district meet with little experience at his event.

“I didn’t really start learning how to do shot put until this year,” he said.

Several other Emmaus athletes earned medals at the district meet, which went to the top four finishers in each event.

Michael Carwell was a second-place finisher in the 1600-meter run, finishing in a time of 4:21.73.

Carwell was also part of one of the two EHS boys relay teams that earned silver medals at districts. He ran the 4x800 relay with David Hearn, Zack Hoffman and London Barrett in 8:08.02 for second place. The Hornet 4x100 relay team of Aiden Bayard, Nicholi Marsh, Rien George and Kai Jefferson-Rushing finished second in 41.12.

George took third place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.24.

Finishing fourth at districts from Emmaus were Marleigh Llewellyn (100 hurdles, 15.62), Elle Bagley (pole vault, 9-0), Roen Woolf (3200, 9:32.97), the girls 4x800 relay team of Grace Nosal, Madelyn McCartney, Aubrey Kazmierczak and Samantha Reidnauer, and the boys 4x400 relay team of Austen Breisch, Nate Miller, Jeremy Sharpless and George. Several Hornet athletes will compete in the PIAA Class 3A Track and Field Championships Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg University.