Two Colts qualify for states in track

Calhoun High School senior Kevin Harvey went into Wednesday’s Section VIII winter track state qualifier at St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington with one goal in mind –– place in the Top Three. Medaling there would get him to the state championship meet at Cornell on March 6.

It has been a goal of Harvey’s throughout the winter season to compete in the two-mile at states. Given the level of competition, finishing in the Top Three at the qualifier would be no easy feat.

Fortunately for Harvey, he happens to be one of Nassau County’s best distance runners. He ended solidly in third, with a time of 9 minutes, 43 seconds, four seconds off his personal best of 9:39, which he ran as a junior.

Junior Tim Campbell also made states, running one of his best miles at St. Anthony's, ending with a time of 4:35 and a second-place finish.

No doubt, the pressure was on for Harvey, 17, of Merrick. The 5-foot-7 runner had led the Calhoun winter track team in winning the Class A indoor county championship only the week before at Suffolk Community College, taking first in three events ––the two-mile, the mile and the 4x800-meter relay.

Calhoun coach David Hendler said he had not seen a triple win like that in his 17 years coaching. “That was the finest triple I’ve seen,” he said.

In winning the county title, Calhoun scored 56 points to second-place Freeport’s 51 and third-place Massapequa’s 50. Harvey accounted for 30 points of Calhoun’s total.

After sweeping at counties, Harvey, a team co-captain, said he was ecstatic. “I was very satisfied. I couldn’t get a smile off my face if I tried,” he said.

The big race at counties was the two-mile, in which Harvey faced his toughest competition, Andrew Valenski of Massapequa. Harvey paced himself against Valenski, drafting off the junior. With four laps to go, Harvey surged ahead, kicking hard and never looking back.

“I decided I was feeling strong and I’d put some pain into it and make a move,” Harvey said.

Some might have thought it was a risky move. If Harvey pushed too hard, too soon, he might have had nothing left in the final lap. But his risk paid off.

Harvey maintained the lead throughout the final four laps, ending in 9:44, four seconds ahead of Valenski.

Calhoun dominated in the two-mile, with senior Bobby McGetrick finishing in third in 9:57 and junior James Panetta ending in fourth in 10:06.