Calhoun's Elias Platanias breaks 16-minute barrier in winning 'A' race

Calhoun's Elias Platanias didn't have any competition coming down the final straightaway of the Class A race at Saturday's Nassau state qualifier at Bethpage State Park. He didn't need any, either. The ticking red clock, conveniently situated at the finish line, provided all the motivation he needed.

"I was looking to break 16 minutes," Platanias said. "That was my goal at the beginning of the season."

So, although no other runner was in sight, Platanias made a mad dash toward the line, fully intent on having the sweetest of finishes. The senior won the 5-kilometer race against the clock, as stubborn and unrelenting an opponent as there ever was, in 15 minutes, 57.38 seconds.

"I saw the clock right at 15:40," Platanias said. "I just kept kicking, gave everything I had to the line, and knew I was going to get it."

Platanias said he knew he had a good chance of finishing under the magic number when he saw an on-course clock that read 13:30 with about 1,000 meters left.

The victory qualified Platanias for the state public school championships, scheduled for Saturday at Monroe-Woodbury High School in Central Valley.

He'll be taking his teammates with him. Calhoun won the Class A team competition, scoring 54 points. Syosset was second with 60.

Tim Courts led Manhasset in its team victory in Class B. The Indians scored 50 points and Courts won the individual title in 16:50.78. Garden City's Dan Valenti was second in 16:54.45. Daniel Petruso was the next highest Manhasset finisher, placing eighth in 17:10.01.

Oyster Bay's Alex Tosi won the Class C race in 17:07.03. Carle Place's Nate Armstrong was second in 17:51.46. Oyster Bay won the team competition with 23 points.

Tosi, knowing a victory in the three-school race was all but assured, used the event as a workout.

"I led from the beginning, tried to get our team in a good position to go to states, and we got there," Tosi said. " . . . I wasn't even looking for time. I just wanted to get some good mileage in, before and after."

Tosi ran the Monroe-Woodbury course at the Crusader Classic pre-state invitational in September, placing second in the fifth varsity race in 16:57.30.

"I got to feel out the course beforehand," Tosi said. "I think that will have an impact on the way I run. I've run the course twice and I know what it's like. I'm hoping that will help me out more."