Emmaus track and field’s McCartney, Walls headed to Division I colleges

Emmaus track & field standouts Claudia Walls and Madelyn McCartney are continuing their career next year at the Division I level.

Walls committed to Lehigh. McCartney is headed to the University of Kentucky.

“I chose Lehigh University because it has a great reputation athletically and academically,” Walls said. “The Patriot League is a very good fit for me. I plan on pursuing a degree in engineering. Coach Brooke Astor at Lehigh and I have formed a nice relationship, and I believe she will be instrumental in getting me to new heights.”

Walls is a three-time EPC high jump champion, 2025 District 11 Class 3A high jump champion, a two-time PIAA qualifier in the high jump and a one-time qualifier in the triple jump. She owns the school records in those two jumping events.

“I want to compete at a very high level, including participating in the New Balance Nationals again and Penn Relays,” Walls added, “and medaling at states and breaking the Emmaus long jump record.”

Walls was District 11 and EPC champion last spring in the high jump and finished 18th at the PIAA Championships. She was fourth in the long jump at districts and 22nd at states, plus EPC second, District 11 fourth and PIAA 22nd in the triple jump.

McCartney is a 2025 PIAA Class 3A cross country champion as well as a three-time EPC and District 11 gold medalist. She owns four individual school records between indoor and outdoor track and is part of three school relay records.

“I chose the University of Kentucky because I developed a good rapport with the coaching staff and liked what the school had to offer both athletically and academically,” she said. “I am going to pursue a career in the medical field at Kentucky because of the strong reputation it has in the medical field. I am planning on studying exercise and health sciences.

“My goals for the upcoming season are to have strong indoor and outdoor seasons. In addition, I am looking forward to competing again at New Balance indoor nationals again in March and possibly New Balance outdoor nationals again later in the spring.”

McCartney set EPC meet records last spring in the 1,600 and 3,200. She won EPC titles in those two races as well as the 800. She also was District 11 and PIAA 3A runner-up in the 3,200 plus District 11 champion and PIAA 11th in the 1,600.

Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com