Miami Track Signs Two Recruits

April 17, 2001

Coral Gables, FL – Head women’s track coach Amy Deem announced the signing of Chinela Davis (North Rockland, NY) and Marilyn Ruiz (Ft. Lauderdale, FL, St. Thomas Aquinas) to national letters of intent to attend the University of Miami next fall.

“We are extremely excited to sign such talented recruits,” said Deem. “These two runners should make an immediate impact on the BIG EAST.” “Chinela is very versatile and will compete in the sprints as well as the long jump. Marilyn will add depth to our middle distance events.”

Davis, a senior and team captain at North Rockland high school holds the Rockland county record in both the indoor 200-meters (25.16) and the outdoor 200-meters (23.90), as well as the indoor record for the long jump (19′ 3-3/4”). She currently holds North Rockland school records in the 100-meter dash (11.90), 200-meter dash (23.90) and long jump (19′ 5-1/4”). Davis was named Athlete of the Season, by the Rockland Journal News in the spring of ’99, winter of ’00, spring of ’00, and winter of ’01.

Ruiz, was the 1999 Sun-Sentinel Cross-Country Runner of the Year and a three-time MVP for the St. Thomas Aquinas cross-country team. She is expected to compete in the 800-meters and the 1500-meters during the outdoor season and the 800-meters and 1000-meters during the indoor season at Miami. Her personal best times include 2:17 in the 800-meters, 5:00 in the 1-mile (Aquinas school record), 11:24 in the 2-mile and 17:42 in the 3-mile.

She is the third St. Thomas women’s track athlete to sign with Miami in past three years following Saraque Whittaker and Wendy Pedley, both signing with UM in 1999.