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DRESDEN, OHIO — Unique mind-sets are needed to compete in pole vault and cross country. A pair of Tri-Valley athletes have excelled in those sports in high school and hope to carry that success to college. Jade Hawkins will compete in the pole vault for Louisville after signing her letter of intent today at the high school, and Alaina Spears signed to run cross country and track at Division II Cedarville on Monday. Hawkins won the Division I indoor state championship in March after clearing 12-feet-3 and earned a partial athletic scholarship. She also collected All-Ohio honors as a junior, tying for eighth after clearing 11-0 in the Division I state outdoor meet and finished 13th in her age group at July’s Junior Olympics. The Muskingum Valley League champion has been vaulting for less than two years but has developed a mind-set for success. “Gymnastics and sprinting helped out, and I’ve really worked hard,” she said. “I’ve been (vaulting) over and over so I’ve lost that fear and focus on clearing the bar.” Several Division I schools were Hawkins’ radar, including Ohio State, Purdue, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Tennessee and Arkansas. The Cardinals were the best fit especially after Hawkins talked to Brooke Demo, who coaches the vaulters at the school. more
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