By: Jake Malone
Greg Lucas, a senior thrower, has certainly had an interesting athletic career at Adelphi.
“It has been a phenomenal year. I feel like we got better as the season progressed and it has been a lot of fun to throw my senior year,” he said.
After originally coming to Adelphi to compete for the swimming and diving team, Lucas joined the track team in the 2017- ‘18 school year. In his first year, he ran a 2:26.46 in the 800m and a 5:14.52 in the 1500m at the TCNJ Invite.
“Making the change from running to throwing was definitely a big challenge. Getting better and better each week and watching my improvement has been a big motivator. I am looking forward to NE10’s and know my team is going to have a strong performance,” said Lucas.
When asked what he has gotten out of the team that will help him after college, Lucas said, “Wanting to become a teacher after college, being a part of this team with many different personalities, it has helped me learn how to work with people to form a successful team. Taking a leadership role on the team has given me more confidence to lead a classroom when the time comes.”
After starting their season by posting five first-place finishers at the Elm City Challenge, the team has continued to have a nice overall year. At the FastTrack Season Opener, the Panthers were led to two top-10 finishes in the men's 5,000-meter run by Gabriel Silva and Thomas Roulette. In her FastTrack debut, freshman Grace Minikel raced to a 14th-place finish in the 3,000-meter run. In their first indoor competition of 2020, the Spartan Invitational was highlighted by record-setting performances.
Gabrielle Buissereth won the women's 400 meter for the Panthers with a time of 57.58 to open up the year, less than half a second behind her career best. Buissereth burst onto the scene as a freshman last season. She made history by winning both the indoor and outdoor 4x400 indoor and outdoor titles. She also placed in the top 10 in all but four races for the year, including six first-place finishes. The two-time NE10 rookie of the week, Buissereth has been a big-time competitor for the Panthers.
For the men, Evangelos Fradelakis took third in the weight throw while setting a new school record of 16.44 meters. William Drexel won his heat and placed sixth overall in the men's 1,000-meter race. He finished with a time of 2:42.51, beating his personal best by more than 20 seconds.
At the Rampo Opener, sophomore Kevin Nasila led the way for the team by winning gold in the men’s triple jump. In addition to placing first in the men's triple jump with a mark of 14.02 meters, Nalisa posted a fourth-place finish in the long jump with a mark of 6.63 meters. Junior Trevor Wilkins placed fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 12.82 meters. In throws, Fradelakis placed for the second consecutive week. He took home the silver with a mark of 16.29 meters.
On the track, the women nabbed five top-five finishes, led by the 4x400 meter relay team. Buissereth, Gabrielle Griffin and Katherine and Isabel Marsh each ran a leg to take second with a time of 4:06.61.
Fradelakis has had an unprecedented run this season. Already breaking three school records this year, the graduate student thrower has just been having fun.
“Adelphi has been the perfect school for me to continue my college career. My teammates were very welcoming to me when I first arrived on campus, and that has helped my performance. Breaking school records is definitely an amazing experience,” he said.
When asked if any records stood out to him, Fradelakis responded, “Breaking the hammer throw record was something that meant a lot to me because it was a record that had been held since 1969.”
The weekend of February 22, the team competed in the NE10 Indoor Championships. Buissereth led the men's and women's programs, winning two golds and several podium finishes. Kiara Birch joined Buissereth in earning an NE10 individual title, winning the pentathlon with a score of 3,394, the third-highest score in meet history. Additionally, Birch had a podium finish for her role in the distance medley relay, placing silver with a time of 12:27.94. Fradelakis set a school record in the men's weight throw in what was a history-making performance by the Panthers. The team finished sixth overall for the women, accumulating 70 points, and seventh overall on the men's side with 19 points.
Adelphi’s next meet was held on February 28 at the Boston University Last Chance Meet. Results weren’t available at press time. They head to Birmingham, Ala. for the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 13.
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