Jan. 27, 2004

Duquesne University's Women's Cross Country/Track and Field coach, Bryan Delsite, has announced two signings for the 2004-05 season. Amy Ruffolo (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and Samantha Howard (Moon Township, Pa./Moon) are the newest recruits added to the cross country/track and field teams for the 2004 season.

Ruffolo signed a National Letter of Intent and has lettered four times in cross-country and three times in track. She was also the team captain in cross-country over the past two years. Ruffolo has been a part of three WPIAL Championship cross country teams at North Allegheny High School - 2000, 2001, and 2003 - and was a part of the PIAA Runner-Up squad in 2000. She was also a member of a three-time WPIAL Champion teams for outdoor track from 2001-2003. In 2003 Ruffolo placed 11th in the PIAA, and fourth in the WPIAL in cross country. For outdoor track she placed ninth in the PIAA in 2001as a member of the 4x400 meter relay, and 11th in the PIAA in 2003 in the 4x800 meter relay. Ruffolo helped her 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 relay squad take second in the WPIAL in 2001. Active in volunteer work, she has completed over 400 hours of volunteer work such as, working with the homeless and at St. Alphonsus Church. She plans to major in Elementary Education.

Howard has committed to a scholarship offer from Duquesne for the 2004-05 season. She is a three time state qualifier in cross country finishing 49th in 2001, 35th in 2002,and was a medallist in 2003 finishing 21st. Howard has received two WPIAL medals in cross country and was a WPIAL Champion as a member of the 4x400 meter relay in 2003. She placed seventh in the WPIAL in the 4 x 800 meter relay in 2003 and is the Moon High School record holder in the 800 and 4 x 400 events. Howard was also the 2003 MAC Cross Country Champion. She has participated in the Pittsburgh Youth Pops Orchestra, is a member of the National Honor Society at Moon, and has a 4.1 GPA. She plans to major in Education.