Details:
Marathon: 2:46:48 (2006) 2:46:48 California International (2006) 03Dec06 California International 9th 2:46:48 15Oct06 Humboldt Redwoods 1st 2:52:28 03Jun06 Newport 2nd 2:53:35 23Oct05 Mystic Places 4th 2:57:39 04Apr04 Athens 1st 3:12:26 19Oct03 Mohawk Hudson River 5th 3:04:56 29Sep02 Boulder Backroads 2nd 3:25:50 Penny McDermott's path to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Women's Marathon has been consistent and methodical. She has focused her energies on smaller marathons and, in seven races since 2002 she has run a PR five times -- including her last four marathon attempts. In that time she has improved from 3:25:50 to 2:46:48, just edging under the 2:47:00 Olympic Trials qualifying time at the 2006 California International Marathon. McDermott has, impressively, placed in the top 10 in all seven of her marathons (and the top five in six of them, including two victories) -- a feat that few women in the Olympic Trials field can match. In the past two years her success has translated to ultramarathons as well. She won just the second ultra she contested, the 2006 McDonald Forest 50K. In 2007 she elected not to run a marathon, focusing instead on ultras, and in February placed second to fellow Olympic Trials qualifier Wendy Terris at the Hagg Lake 50K. In July she was again a runner-up (and ninth place overall), this time at the Siskiyou Outback Trail Run 50K. | 
