McGill-Toolen record pole-vaulter Margaret Ollinger signs with Vanderbilt

Record-setting McGill-Toolen pole vaulter Margaret Ollinger has signed a national letter-of-intent to continue her career at Vanderbilt.

“Very excited to see Margaret bring her national caliber talent into the SEC,” Vanderbilt associate head coach Clark Humphreys said on the school’s web site. “Her experience at those major meets will serve her well. She’s a great athlete with a high upside. I’m excited to work with Margaret next year.”

Ollinger was AL.com’s Coastal Track and Field Performer of the year in the spring. She has an indoor best of 13-2.25 in the vault with an outdoor best of 13-6.25.

“Vanderbilt has everything I’ve ever wanted in a college — a great location, excellent academics and a track team and coach that I believe can help me reach my potential,” Ollinger said on the web site. “When making a pros and cons list for Vanderbilt, I couldn’t come up with any cons.”

— Alma Bryant senior Holly LaForce signed a national letter-of-intent to play softball at Montevallo last week. The utility player hit .337 for the Hurricanes in 2015. She struck out just four times in 98 at-bats. LaForce has been a varsity starter since seventh grade. LaForce played centerfield, shortstop and third base at Bryant.

— Cottage Hill’sCaroline Cumbest has signed an NLI to run cross country and track at Alabama. She is the first Cottage Hill athlete to sign an SEC scholarship. She holds school records in the 5K, 3200 and 1600.

— Tyler Bennett and Zachary Myers of Cottage Hill Christian Academy signed a National Letter of Intent to run cross country next fall at the University of Montevallo.

Bennett holds the school record in the 3200. He is a four-time All-county and All-section runner and a two-time All-state runner who has established a personal record in the 5K at 16:48.

Myers won the Mobile County Challenge of Champion as an eighth-grader. He is a two-time All-County and All-Section runner and an All-state runner in 2014.

— Spanish Fort swimmer Ashlynn Weissgerber has signed an NLI with Wingate University in North Carolina.