June 5, 2008

Senior Marsha Locke (Danbury, CT) has been named to the 2008 CoSIDA Academic All-American District I Women's Track & Field / Cross Country team. Locke was a second-team selection.

Locke, who just graduated from Sacred Heart in May with a degree in nursing, has been a three-time Northeast Conference Academic Honor Roll honoree.

She just completed her stellar career for the Pioneers with a sixth place showing in the shot put at the NCAA East Regional Championship to garner NCAA All-East honors. Her toss of 49'9.25" once again topped her own school record in the event as she becomes the first Pioneer female athlete to place at the NCAA Regional meet.

At the NEC Championships, Locke led the way starting by successfully defending her shot put crown from a year ago to lead the Pioneers to their first-ever conference title. She bested last year's winning throw by more than one meter and surpassed the qualifying standard for the NCAA East Region Championships at14.99m (49' 2.25"). On Sunday, the senior won the javelin with an NCAA Regional qualifying toss of 43.84m (143'10"). She added a pair of third place finishes as well in the hammer throw with a toss of 52.45m (172'01") and the discus with a throw of 41.96m (137'8").

Locke also successfully defended her New England shot put title by besting the field by over two feet. Her throw of 48'11.75" (14.93) won the event and met the NCAA Regional qualifying standard. Locke picked up her third career New England title by winning the javelin with a throw of 134'11" (41.12m). Locke also picked up points by finishing fourth in the discus with a throw of 136'10" (41.72m).

The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) selects the Academic All-America At-Large team out of a pool of student-athletes from the following sports: women's bowling, women's crew, men's and women's fencing, women's field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's gymnastics, men's and women's ice hockey, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's rifle, men's and women's skiing, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, men's volleyball, men's and women's water polo and men's wrestling.