LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell junior distance runner Jaclyn Solimine (Haverhill, Mass.) and sophomore middle distance runner Alli Wood (Chelmsford, Mass.) have been named to the America East Outdoor Track and Field All-Academic Team.  The announcement was made by the conference this afternoon.
 
"They both were terrific," said Track and Field Head Coach Gary Gardner. They both had a fantastic year.  They've come a long way.  They work extremely hard on the track and they work extremely hard in the classroom.  There's a carry over and the key is their self-motivation; they, both, are very motivated and that translates well whether it's in the classroom or on the track."
 
Solimine is a mechanical engineering major with a 3.88 grade point average and Wood has a 3.96 GPA in nursing.
 
"They are very focused," said Gardner.  "From day-one both have been zeroed in on the career that they want.  They take the same approach on the track and that makes them very easy to coach"
 
On the track both had outstanding outdoor seasons that saw both growth and success. 
 
Solimine finished in the top five in six of seven events she competed in and peaked at the right time.  She won the 5,000-meters at the America East Outdoor Track and Field Championships and then finished second in the 3,000-meters at the IC4A/ECAC Championships. Solimine was part of the school record setting 4 x 1,500-meter relay team.
 
Solimine is an honor student and a member of the Engineering Honor Society, The Society of Women Engineers and works as an engineering research assistant.  She has served on campus as a tutor.
 
This was a terrific year of growth for Wood.  She finished in the top in six of ten competitions including grabbing a third place finish in the 800-meters at the America East Championships (2:13.05).  She followed that up with a personal best 2:11.62 in the 800-meters at the IC4A/ECAC Championships.  She was also part of the 4 x 800-meter relay team that took fourth at the America East Championships.