Soderholm Wins Junior World Men's Snowshoe Championships in Spain

Paul Smith's College snowshoe athlete Eliot Soderholm won the World Snowshoe Championship in the Junior men's 4-kilometer race on Saturday in Fuente de, Spain.  Soderholm, of Reston, Virginia, chased down Canada's Nicolas Fontaine and stuck with him over the second half of the course and with about 300 meters to go and shot for the lead, crossing in 33 minutes, 50 second to claim the school's first-ever individual world title.  Fontaine placed second in 34:04. 

Ten nations sent athletes to the World Championships with over 160 athletes taking part. The United States had over 40 athletes competing in this year's World Championships. The remaining Paul Smith's College students competed in the senior — age 20 and older — 8.5K event and were in the 20-29 age category. 

Zack Sprott-Scribner led Paul Smith's men's team in the 8.5K, placing 61st overall and seventh in the 20-29 category with a time of 1:06:45. Logan Krahn (1:09:03) placed 77th overall and 11th in the 20-29, Carson Wohlers (1:12:01) was 90th and Wesley Burkit (1:12:08) finished in 13th place in the 20-29 category. Dan Edelstein of Saranac Lake earned fifth in the age 60-69 category with a time of 1:10:16. 

On the women's side, Olivia Bobbie was the first Paul Smith's athlete to finish, placing fifth in the 20-29 division in 1:41:38. Haven Bradt (1:42:09) placed sixth and Joanna Kerchner (1:42:21) finished in seventh. 

Argentina's Veronica Galvan won the women's 8.5K in 57:33, followed by Michelle Hummel of the U.S. in 58:44 and Spain's Georgina Gabro Morente in 58:53.  Alex Baldaccini of Italy won the men's 8.5 km in 44:04, while Stephane Ricard of France placed second in 45:54, and Roberto Ruiz Revuelta of Spain placed third in 46:03.

Soderholm is the first Paul Smith's College athlete to earn a World Championship title in any sport.  After a couple days to begin absorbing the achievement, Eliot provided the following:  "It is such an honor to be able to represent my country ~ it is an opportunity not many people have, and it is a dream come true just to run here.  Especially for me as I'm not the best runner and I came to Paul Smith's College from a super competitive high school.  I never imagined I would have an opportunity like this.  It is such an honor to be able to bring home a win for my country and Paul Smith's College.  The training potential here at the college and local area is truly second to none."

8.5K World Championship – Top Three Women and Men

Women

Veronica Galvan                                 Argentina        57:33

Michelle Hummel                               USA                58:33

Georgina Gabarro Morente                Spain               58:53

Men

Alex Baldaccini                                  Italy                 44:04

Stephane Ricard                                  France             45:54

Roberto Ruiz Revuelta                       Spain               46:03