Colts prep for state cross-country meet

“Pain.”

That’s the one word that Calhoun High School cross-country coach David Hendler used to describe the brutal 3.1-mile course that his squad of six seniors and one junior will face when they compete for the New York State Cross-Country Championship this Saturday at Lakeside Park in Pawling, N.Y.

The course features a quarter-mile, nearly vertical hill one mile into the competition. That, team members said, is the killer.

Two weeks ago, the squad ran on the course at the Section I Coaches Invitational –– and won –– defeating one of the state’s toughest squads, East Aurora. So, going into the state meet, Calhoun squad members say they’re feeling confident. “We’re definitely thinking Top Three,” Hendler said. And why not? The team placed third in the state last year.

On Saturday, the squad breezed through the Nassau County Cross-Country Championship at Bethpage State Park, placing all seven runners in the Top 25, defeating second-place Port Washington by 63 points. One hundred and forty runners took part in the race. Calhoun senior James Panetta, 17, placed second, breaking the 16-minute mark. Team members averaged 16:26.5 over the 3.1-mile course.

Hendler said the team stepped up its training three years ago, committing to increasing its summer regimen from 300 miles to 500 miles, as well as running on Sundays during the season. “They run early in the morning, in the afternoon. It’s a way of life,” Hendler said.

Before each big meet, team members hold pasta dinners at one another’s houses. Before the county meet, they ate at Hendler’s East Meadow home. All said they plan to run cross-country in college. None know where yet.

After taking the county title, Hendler said, “I get the feeling their options have opened up.”

Calhoun’s times at the Nassau County Cross-Country Championship

James Panetta (All-County), 15:57, second place

Tim Campbell (All-County), 16:10, fifth place

Brendan Abrams (All-County), 16:34, 14th place

Casey Bader (All-County), 16:40, 16th place

Nick Macaluso (All-County), 16:50, 19th place

Kenny Woo (All-County), 16:57, 21st place

Nick Haile (All-Conference), 17:18, 25th place

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