AMORY – It took sheer determination, athletic ability and hips that can really swing.

But it all came together as Amory Middle School seventh-grader Chelsea Harlow broke the national Project Fit America hula hoop record on May 14 at her school.

Using a special weighted sports hoop that weighs about three pounds, Harlow hooped for 5 hours, 54 minutes and 58 seconds.

The previous record was 5 hours, 38 minutes set this spring by a fifth-grader in Roseville, Calif. The sports hoop is intended to promote upper body strength, cardio and abdominal training.

Harlow was visibly exhausted by the time she broke the record, but she had been waiting for weeks for the opportunity to put her name in the record book.

According to her physical education teacher Charlotte Pickle, the students had to be able to hula hoop for 10 minutes to qualify for the official event.

Harlow took no breaks in her nearly 6-hour feat. She did eat some pizza and drank a little something during the day, but never stopped the hoop from spinning around her hips. She even watched a full-length movie, “Bridge to Terabithia,” while competing.

She is the daughter of Tina and Michael Harlow. Her mother said she inherited her athletic ability from her.

“She’s been waiting for this,” Tina Harlow said as her daughter neared the end of her hooping. “I promised her some Blue Bell ice cream tonight.”

About 10 minutes before breaking the record, Chelsea kicked her shoes off but never stopped twirling. She paced around the gym and fanned herself with her hands.

“I think it is a wonderful thing that Chelsea did this,” said Amory Middle School Principal Cheryl Moore. “It is unbelievable that she could hula hoop for so long. She is truly an athlete. I am very proud of her.”

Her photo and record will be posted on the Project Fit America web site. Project Fit America is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated to getting kids fit.