LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Four members of the Lock Haven University women’s track & field team have earned a spot on the 2009 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division II Women’s All-Academic Track & Field Team.

Earning a spot on the All-Academic team was a pair of seniors in Shala Simms (Ardmore, Pa./Upper Darby) and Alyssa Douma (West Milford, N.J./West Milford), along with sophomore Alaina Leonard (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern) and freshman Lindsey Lambert (Howell, N.J./Howell).

The four combined excellence in their respective events and in the classroom to take home this honor.

Simms capped off her career in a big way, as she broke the school record in the 800 meter run in the prelims of the ’09 NCAA Outdoor Championship meet. She also took fourth at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship meet in both the 800 and 1,500 meter events.

Douma had a very solid conference championship meet, finishing seventh in the 1,500 and eighth in the 800. She also teamed up with Simms on the Lady Eagles second place 4x400 meter relay team.

Leonard, a national qualifier in the hammer throw had a huge day for LHU at the PSAC Championships. She took home top honors in the hammer, while adding a fourth-place finish in the shot put and an eighth place showing in the discus.

Lambert capped off a stellar rookie year with some sensational outings during the outdoor season. She was a national qualifier in the 5K and 10K, after scoring in three events at her first outdoor conference championship meet. Lambert was second in the 5K, third in the 10K and seventh in the 3K.

These four women were a huge part of Lock Haven’s third-place finish in the team race at the conference meet.