SEATTLE (May 14) -- Allison Hedges, one of the state's top pole vaulters from Richland High School, has signed a national letter of intent to compete in track & field for Seattle Pacific University.

Hedges is one of three SPU recruits from the Richland team, joining distance runner Brandi McCoy and hurdler Linda Blake. Hedges has vaulted 11 feet, 3 inches this season, ranking her among the top seven in Washington and fifth among class 4A.

Seattle Pacific won its third consecutive conference championship earlier this month and will send eight women, including pole vaulter Ally Studer, to the NCAA Division II Championships next week.