Adam Lufkin is a first-year thrower for the University of Maine men’s track and field team. Lufkin throws both the shot put and the discus. He has had a good start to the year, winning the discus in his last meet, along with beating New Hampshire twice and is driven by the high expectations that he has for himself and his team.
“This year I’d like to get back to my personal records from high school, because of the weight change from high school to college, so if I could just get back to what I threw last year that would be good,” Lufkin said. “Long term, I would like to win the America East Championships. I’d also like to take a stab at a few school records, but that’s a long way down the road.”
Adam is an early childhood education student in which he engages in classroom programs and working with children in order to one day get his degree.
Because Lufkin is an involved member of the track team, and because of the demands of his major, he doesn’t have much free time. But when he does, he likes to stay active.
“Besides practice, I like to play basketball. Basketball has always been my favorite sport to play, but I was better in track so I chose that,” he said.
Adam played both basketball and football for the Brewer Witches in high school, along with setting the school record in the discus in outdoor track.
Between daily practices and running around in his downtime, Lufkin enjoys UMaine’s finest of dining halls.
“York. York is definitely my favorite place to eat,” he said. “I’m a grilled cheese and tomato soup kind of guy. I love it there.”
Lufkin grew up near Orono, and attended Brewer High School. Lufkin wanted to stay close to home for college, and because Maine has an established track program, he decided to come to UMaine.
“I like everything about here, except the weather,” he admitted. “There’s almost nothing bad about here.”
While Lufkin is known for his prowess in track and field, he has more talents than just that.
“I play a lot of rummy at home, my family really likes to play card games,” he said. “I can make minute rice in 58 seconds, so that’s pretty cool.”
Athletes are known to be high-octane, competitive people, though Lufkin doesn’t necessarily fit that mold all the time.
“I used to be a dancer,” he said. “I took ballroom dance lessons from sixth grade to my sophomore year. I was actually on the dance team my freshman and sophomore year.”
You can catch Lufkin on the field for the UMaine Black Bears when the team’s season culminates at the America East Championships in Albany, New York in early May.