Hannah Hensley set Pinecrest school records in the high jump and the 400-meter run as a freshman in 2010.

She capped that by winning the heptathlon for her age group at the Junior Olympic Track and Field Champion-ships held in Sacramento, Calif., while representing the Sandhills Track Club that summer.

Last week, the daughter of Roger and Heather Hensley took another big step by signing a national letter of intent to continue her education and track and field career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“I liked the facilities, the coaches, the team and also the school itself,” she said.

Hensley’s brother, Charles, her grandmother, Carolyn Hensley, coaches and friends attended the signing ceremony held at Pinecrest. A good student, she plans to carry a double major in design and marketing at UAB with a career goal of designing resorts and nightclubs.

Coming back from injuries that cut her 2012 outdoor season short, Hensley finished second in the high jump for the third time at the NCHSAA State Indoor Track Championships held at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem two weeks ago.

“She’s a very talented young lady,” Pinecrest girls’ track coach John Buchholz said. “Hopefully, her injuries are behind her and things are looking up. She’s been a pleasure to work with as a multi-event athlete.”

Hensley is anticipating performing in the challenging seven-event heptathlon at UAB.

In her dominating win in Sacramento, she was second among 16 contestants in the high jump, long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter run, tied for second in the 100-meter hurdles, third in the 200-meter dash and fifth in the shot put.

In the high jump, considered her best event, she eclipsed her school record of 5-foot-7 with a leap of 5-foot-8.75.

Coach Nat Carter of the Sandhills Track Club, who attended the signing ceremony, witnessed the performance.

“It came down to the last two events and they (Hensley and Urina Harrell) were tied,” Carter recalled. “That was amazing to win a national championship.

“She’s one of the most versatile athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching.”