Nov. 6, 2008
Garden City, N.Y. -
Head coach Adam Siepiola released the 2008-09 indoor and outdoor track and field schedules this week. While the team will be traveling to many of the same meets as in years past, such as the Great Dane Invitational, NYU Fastrack, and The PENN Relays, this year's schedule features more high profile meets.
Since Siepiola took over as head coach, the direction of the team and schedule has evolved. "We have developed a lot over the past three years. Our runners are more focused, dedicated and have set their goals higher than in years past. They're ready for tougher, faster competition". In seasons past, the schedule consisted of more local, low-key meets with the team performing well. However, over the past two seasons more quality meets such as the Boston Invitational at Boston University, Princeton's Sam Howell Invitational, the NYC Qualifying Challenge at Ichan Stadium and IC4A/ECAC Championships have been added.
Many of the meets feature top runners from all divisions and all corners of the country, while offering a chance for the Panthers to match up against schools outside of the CTC conference. "The CTC meet is a great meet for us because we can be competitive and finish among the top-five teams. It also is our conference championship meet and comes at a time in the season when we are looking to start running really well." The indoor CTC championships will be held in Cox Cage at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut on February 7-8 while the outdoor CTC championships will be held on April 18-19 at a site to be announced.
The Panther harriers have proved they can run with the best by posting outstanding marks in well-known meets. Back in 2006, Jaime Julia-Perez was the first Adelphi runner to run in the 10k at the PENN Relays in at least two decades. Last season, Danielle Lyons broke the school record in the 800 (2:14.47) en route to a provisional mark in the event and also set the school record in the 1000 (2:56.61). The men's 4x800 meter relay team won the indoor CTC event and went on to set a school record at the IC4A meet with a time of 7:46.96 while the men's 4x400 meter relay team won the CTC division at the PENN Relays with a time of 3:20.64, the best time the school has seen since the `80's. This year, the Penn relays are on April 23-25 at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Siepiola feels confident about his runners and has no qualms about putting them on the line against anyone. "The past two seasons we have taken athletes to the ECAC/IC4A championship meet with great results. Those experiences have prepared are runners to compete against the best and to compete at a level that makes NCAA qualifying a reality". The Indoor ECAC and IC4A Championships will both be held on March 7-8 in Boston, Massachusetts, but the former will be held at the Reggie Lewis center while the latter will be held at Boston University.
Not only do the harriers feel they can make it to the NCAA's, a feat that has not been accomplished on the track since 1983 when Gordon Hines earned All-American status, Siepiola and the coaching staff feel confident as well. "Sending athletes to the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships is more achievable than ever this year. We have a very talented group of runners this year who are committed to making their main focus the NCAA championship meet both as individuals and as relays." Both the indoor and outdoor NCAA championships will be held in Texas this year. Indoors will be at the University of Houston on March 13-14 while outdoors will be held at San Angelo State University in San Angelo on May 21-23.
Siepola says of the season, "every year we want to find the best meets we can within the Northeast so that we can offer the athletes the highest level of competition. Indoors, we feel that there is no better venue then the armory and everyone in the country wants to run there. Outdoors we have to travel a little bit, but with it being a shorter season there are a lot of high quality meets."
The Panthers will kick off the season at the Metropolitan Coaches Collegiate Invitational at the Armory in New York City on January 9, 2009. This is the first of many trips to the armory which include the NYC Gotham Cup (1/16), the Great Dane Invitational (1/23), New Balance Collegiate (2/6-7), and NYU Fastrack (2/27).
