McDermott Paces Whit Men in X-C Skiing

News Release Date:
Thursday, March 11, 2010

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- With senior Warren McDermott earning First-Team All-America honors in one of the final two events, the Whitman College men's Nordic ski team place finished fifth in the overall team scoring at last week's U.S. Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association National Championships at Black Mountain near Rumford, Maine.

McDermott pocketed first-team honors in last Friday's 15-kilometer classic event, placing fourth with a time of 41:12.3. That was just 14 seconds behind the winner, University of Wyoming's Evgeniy Panzhinskiy.

Warren McDermott

Bailey Arend, a Whitman senior, was 20th in 45:18.2 while freshman Elliot Broze was 41st in 51:24.9. The Missionaries were fifth in classic race team scoring with 55 place points, just one point behind fourth-place Western State College. Wyoming was first, St. Olaf's second and Clarkson third.

The men's Nordic portion of the championships came to a close on Saturday with the 3x5-kilometer relay. McDermott anchored the Missionary trio with a time of 13:10.2 for his leg, one of the best times of the day.

Whitman finished sixth in the relay team scoring with a total time of 43:38.5. Western State was first in 40:05.1, beating Wyoming by eight seconds.

In the week-long team scoring, the Missionaries finished fifth. Wyoming was first and St. Olaf's second.

In the overall individual team scoring, McDermott again made the All-America First Team, placing fourth with 15 points, just one point out of third and  five points out of first.

Earlier last week, McDermott collected first-team honors in the 1.4-kilometer freestyle sprint and second-team kudos in the 8.5-kilometer freestyle race.

Arend also earned Second-Team Academic All-America recognition. That honor goes to athletes with a cumulative gpa between 3.5 and 3.79.

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CONTACT: Dave Holden
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
509 527-5902; holden@whitman.edu