By Ian Kay, Daily Sports Writer on 1/24/08

The excitement for Emily Pendleton's senior prom started long before the dance actually started.

Competing at the Oak Harbor Invitational mere hours before her hair appointment, Pendleton launched her final discus throw of the day 183 feet and three inches.

The toss shattered the all-time Ohio state record by more than six feet and would have been enough to take second place at last year's NCAA championships.

With those kind of numbers, it's no surprise Michigan coaches have sky-high expectations for the Lindsay, Ohio native in three throwing events - discuss, shot put and hammer throw.

"She should break the school record in the discus this year, and she'll probably qualify in (discus, shot put and hammer throw) for NCAA regionals," Michigan assistant coach Anne Takacs said. "She should go to NCAA Nationals and be in the top five in discus and she also should make it to Olympic trials."