Angelo State senior thrower Adree Lakey has been announced as one of the 11 finalists for the 2008-09 Division II Athlete of the Year sponsored by Honda.
Lakey, a native of Sylvester, sparked the Rambelles to their best finish in school history at last week's NCAA D-II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. The Roby High School product was the meet's top point scorer with 29 points, placing in the top four in all four throwing disciplines.
Already a two-time national champion, Lakey added her third national title this spring as she captured the crown in the shot put last week with the fifth-best throw in D-II history at 52'10". She claimed the national title in the hammer throw as a sophomore in 2007 and in the discus throw as a junior in 2008. Lakey placed second last week in the discus, third in the hammer and fourth in the javelin and ended her career as an 11-time All-American at ASU.
A four-time All-Lone Star Conference selection, Lakey led the Rambelles to their third conference title in school history earlier this month. At the LSC Championships, Lakey scored 34 points, earning a conference title in the shot put, placing second in both the hammer and javelin and third in the discus. She was named the David Noble Award winner three times in her career, an award given to the top female field at the LSC Championships.
Now in its 33rd year, the D-II Athlete of the Year recognized the top woman collegiate athlete in each of the 11 sports in D-II. D-II athletes are nominated by national coaches association for each of the 11 sports: basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field and volleyball.
The awards program is sponsored by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and to celebrate these awards Honda donates $1,000 to the women's athletic fund of each nominee's university. The winner's institution will also receive a $5,000 donation.
A press conference will be held June 22 at Columbia University in New York City to announce and present the D-II Athlete of the Year, along with the recipients of the D-III Athlete of the Year, the Honda-Broderick Cup and the Honda Inspiration Award.
Lakey is looking to become just the second athlete from the LSC to receive the award. Abilene Christian's Jennifer Clarkson won the award in 1996 representing the Wildcat basketball program.
2008-09 D-II Athlete of the Year Nominees
Katie Cezat, basketball, Hillsdale
Kristin Erb, softball, Lock Haven
Katie Hogan, lacrosse, C. W. Post
Adree Lakey, track and field, Angelo State
Yuan Quing Li, swimming, Drury
Lyndsay McBride, golf, Indianapolis
Maggie McNamara, volleyball, Concordia (Minn.)
Sona Novakova, tennis, Armstrong Atlantic State
Jessica Pixler, cross country, Seattle Pacific
Meredith Teague, soccer, Seattle Pacific
Jamie Vanartsdalen, field hockey, Bloomsburg
