Jessica Peterson of Port Orchard, Wash. has signed a National Letter of Intent to run cross country for Lewis-Clark State College beginning with the 2013 season.

Peterson, a senior at South Kitsap High School, is a three-time qualifier for Washington’s Class 4A state meet, where she placed 33rd in her final go-round on Nov. 3.

Also a top-level triathlete, Peterson is ranked 28th in the nation for her age group and was invited to the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships in Burlington, Vt. during the summer. She has won triathlons in Idaho, Washington and New York during her 10 years competing in the grueling three-sport races.

“We are very excited about having Jessica here,” said Lewis-Clark State coach Mike Collins, whose Warrior teams are preparing for the NAIA National Championships on Nov. 17 in Vancouver, Wash. “She is an extremely well-rounded young lady and active in all kinds of events. We believe she is going to be an immediate contributor.”

Peterson will have every opportunity to race as a freshman, with four of the Warriors’ top six runners set to graduate in 2012.

“We need to be strengthening our team in order to continue our streak of rankings as well as consecutive trips to nationals,” Collins said. “Jessica will be able to come in right away and help in this regard and will help to make those around her better. We are excited about adding her to our family here at LCSC.”

The Warrior women have been ranked in each NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ poll since Sept. 21, 2001, a string of 113 consecutive appearances among the nation’s elite. LCSC has also appeared at 12 straight national championship meets.

Peterson is also an outstanding student, accumulating a 3.97 grade-point average at South Kitsap and is currently the lead flute in the marching band. She also volunteered this past summer at the Pacific Northwest Salmon Center, measuring and calculating water flow in rivers for salmon. She is planning to major in Elementary Education at LCSC.