LOWELL (May 14, 2008) -- Typically, collegiate athletes build on the skills they learned in high school.

Lyra Clark is the exception to this rule. This former Nashua North basketball standout has reinvented herself as a middle-distance running sensation at UMass Lowell.

Clark headed to what she thought would be a basketball career at Norwich University in Vermont. But the coach who recruited her left just before the start of her freshman year.

Clark transferred to UMass Lowell and contacted River Hawks track coach Gary Gardner about trying out for the team.

While at Nashua North, Clark had competed on the spring track team. She threw the javelin, advancing as far as the New Englands, and also competed in the high jump, ran a leg on the 4-by-400-meter relay team and took part in the heptathlon, where she placed at the state level.

But this hoopster with the big city bounce to her game when it came to attacking the basket, never imagined she had the drive needed to go the distance in track. That is until the UMass Lowell coaching staff started polishing up this diamond in the rough.

Clark has run her opposition into the ground. She was named the Northeast-10 Conference's Freshman Athlete of the Year in women's cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track. Among the events she competes in are the 1,000 meters, 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, and distance medley relay, where she was part of a relay team that earned All-America honors this past indoor season.

Clark is also racing to the head of her class in the classroom where she is majoring in biological sciences and has a 3.94 GPA.

"Things have come along much more quickly and much better than we ever expected," said Gardner. "We've had kids who were good right away, but they were really good in high school. ... She's come basically from nothing to being the best freshman in the conference. We've definitely never had anybody like that. And probably never will again."

Clark finished first in the 3,000 meters at the NE-10 Outdoor Championships in a time of 10:28.33, crossing the finish line 30 seconds faster than the runner-up.

"I'd have to say I'm surprised by how well I've done," said Clark. "A lot of this has to do with me having amazing coaches. "

Clark has already provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in two events. She is currently ranked 26th in Division 2 in the 1,500 meters in a time of 4:36.94 and is currently ranked 33rd in Division 2 in the 3,000 meters with a time of 10:09.19.

"The conference and the rest of New England is wondering where the heck she came from," said Gardner. "I've had coaches say to me, 'Where did she run?' And I'll say, 'She really didn't.' ... What she's accomplished is a testament to the work she's put in and how tough and talented she really is."

In cross-country, Clark was a member of the NCAA Northeast Region Championship All-Star Team. During the winter, Clark was the NE-10 champion in the mile as well as the runner-up in the 1,000 meters. She teamed up with Christina Dalomba, Patricia Brice and Haley Catarius on the distance medley relay squad that earned All-America honors.

Clark is quick to praise her teammates, especially seniors such as Amanda Sousa, who enabled her to find a comfort zone.

"My teammates have helped me get better," said Clark. "The seniors definitely made it easier to come into a sport that I had never done before. "

Her basketball background gave her the drive to move to the front of the pack.

"I'm competitive and that helps," said Clark. "When I see someone ahead of me I feeI I can chase them down if they're within a reasonable distance."

Gardner feels the best is yet to come.

"We just graduated one of the best female athletes in school history in Nicole Plante (a nine-time All-American)," said Gardner. "And she can be as good or better. That's about as high a praise that I can give."