SPANISH FORT, Alabama — Spanish Fort’s Lauren Davis signed a letter of intent Wednesday to compete for the University of Alabama-Huntsville women’s track and field team next year.

The Lady Toro sprinter has held held a number of county titles in different events but burst on the regional scene as varsity long jumper in the seventh and eighth grades. She is also the starting point guard for the Lady Toros’ basketball team.

“I really love the program they have up there at UAH and I’m so excited to be a part of it,” she said. “The coaches are great and I already have friends up there and it’s where I want to go and continue with running and school, too. I fell in love with running when I was really young and I think I started wanting to compete in college by the seventh or eighth grade. It’s like a dream come true.”

As a junior, she won Baldwin County championships in the 100 meters, the 200, the 4x400 and took second in the 400.

Davis’ coach at Spanish Fort, Michael Rauch—who begins his second season at the Toros’ track and field helm, said Davis is a gifted athlete with much potential and would be a great addition to the Chargers.

“Lauren is a real competitor in everything and as a sprinter you need that fire to win and she has it on the track and on the basketball court as well. She’s been a great athlete to work with because she wants to get better and is always ready to do the work. Plus, she is a real team player, too. Track is about doing your best as an individual in your best events, of course, but it’s also about sometimes helping out in a different event you may not like as much to help the team. She is a real supportive teammate for everybody else no matter how she is doing. She is just a stellar athlete and coach (David) Cain (UAH head coach) is lucky to be getting her. I also think she is fortunate to be getting a great coach in him and his staff at the next level. We’re going to miss her, but fortunately not until after one more season here and we are all looking forward to it.”

He said that her sprinting coach at UAH, Soyini Thompson, wants her to concentrate on the 100, 200 and 400-meter distances for her first collegiate season but expects her to be competitive in longer events including relays.

Lady Toros head basketball coach Angi Puckett was also excited for her senior point whose speed and quickness pays off in both sports.

“This young lady is full of determination and spirit and just does amazing things on the basketball court and makes it look easy. She works so hard to be the best she can be and is always working to improve herself, but still always puts the team first. Just a joy to coach. She is one of the fastest girls I have ever coached and it’s a real blessing to have her speed and quickness on both defense and offense working for us. But she’s not only an amazing athlete, she is an amazing person with a heart of gold. She’s involved with her church, she sings like an angel and UAH is blessed to have her.”

Davis added words of thanks.

“I just want to thank by parents, Tim and Shelly Davis, and all my coaches both in track and basketball. Coach Rauch has been great through the transition changing coaches and he’s helped me a lot in that time. And coach Puckett was here the whole time and really supported me through everything. And also all my teachers and teammates for everything.”