Lady Birds’ McWilliams ‘kind of in disbelief’ after winning Class 2 state title in triple jump

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The reality of what Callie McWilliams accomplished Saturday hadn’t taken hold by the time she and her family returned to Shelbina.

“I don’t think it’s kicked in yet,” McWilliams said. “I’m kind of in disbelief.”

McWilliams became the first South Shelby girls track and field athlete to win a state championship since 2012 and the first to win one in a jumps event, taking first Saturday in the triple jump at the Class 2 state championships with a leap of 36 feet, 7.5 inches.

“I was just super happy,” McWilliams said. “I went up to (South Shelby coach Kent O’Laughlin) and hugged him. I was so happy.”

McWilliams’ best leap came on the second of her six attempts, and she was the only jumper in the field to clear 36 feet. She took the lead on her first attempt with a jump of 35 feet, 7.25 inches, but needed to go farther to cement her spot atop the podium.

“I knew it was better than the last one,” McWilliams said of her second and winning jump. “I knew I did something right.”

She also medaled in the 400 dash, finishing sixth in 1 minute, .73 seconds.

“I liked being able to jump before the 400,” McWilliams said. “It made the day easier.”

McWilliams will have the chance to repeat as a state champion next year and possibly become the third athlete in program history with multiple state titles. Diane Hirrlinger won titles in the mile run in 1979, the 1,600 in 1980 and the 3.200 in 1981, while Tami Micham won the 1,600 in 1989 and the 3,200 in 1987 and ’89.

“It will push me to be better,” McWilliams said. “I’ll want to get the state title again.”