McDermott Repeats as ACC Steeplechase Champion

Friday, April 16

Clemson, S.C.

All Day

Duke University

Day Two

McDermott Repeats as ACC Steeplechase Champion

4/16/2010 8:00:00 PM | Track & Field

By: Duke Sports Information

CLEMSON, S.C. - Duke junior Ryan McDermott highlighted a successful day two for both the men's and women's Duke track and field teams at the2010 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. McDermott won his second straight title in the 3,000m steeplechase Friday evening at the conference meet, held at Rock Norman Track Complex on the campus of Clemson University. McDermott narrowly edged Virginia's Stephen Finley for the individual title, running 8:56.01 to earn Duke's ninth title in the event.

The Blue Devils are in fourth place with 30 points, 11 behind first-place Florida State. The women with 26 points are also in fourth place; Clemson leads the overall standings with 65 points.

On the women's side, Emily Schwitzer also earned All-ACC honors with a second-place effort in the 3,000m steeplechase. The Duke junior ran 10:31.49, the No. 3 all-time performance in school history, to earn the first All-ACC honors of her career. In addition, Mary Carleton Johnston came in sixth in 10:36.12.

In the heptathlon, Karolina Haraldsdottir came in fifth with a school record score of 5,145. With her performance Friday, Haraldsdottir now owns the Duke records in both the pentathlon and the heptathlon.

Three Duke athletes advanced to the finals in the men's 1,500-meters, led by Cory Nanni's 3:51.42 performance. Joshua Lund (3:51.82) and Ken Sullivan (3:52.74) will both join Nanni in the finals tomorrow. Representing the women in the 1,500-meters will be Kate Van Buskirk and Emily Sherrard, clocking 4:32.07 and 4:31.78, respectively.

In the 800-meters, Sean-Pat Oswald, who earned Indoor All-ACC honors in the event this winter, ran 1:52.08 to advance to Saturday's finals.

The Blue Devils own four of the nine spots in the women's 800-meters as well with Cydney Ross (2:10.87), Devotia Moore (2:12.03), Esther Vermeer (2:08.46) and Leslie Morrison (2:12.68) all advancing to the finals.

The third and final day of action begins tomorrow at 12 p.m. with the men's high jump and hammer throw and women's triple jump and pole vault. The first of 19 running event finals begin at 3:15 p.m.

Live coverage will be video-streamed via theACC.com beginning at 3 p.m. Jerry Massey will call the action. In addition, live results will be available on the official championship website, http://www.theacc.com/championships/10-otf-championship.html.

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