Mr. Blaster (and the Orediggers) goes to Washington

Mines cross country team honored at new White House event

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It’s not unusual for the Orediggers to end their athletic seasons on the national stage, but that stage usually isn’t on the White House’s South Lawn.

On June 12, the Colorado School of Mines men’s cross country team was honored during College Athlete Day.

e Orediggers won the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championship in December, and are the rst Mines team to be honored at the White House as national champions, according to Mines Athletics.

Vice President Kamala Harris and NCAA President Charlie Baker hosted the ceremony, with more than 1,000 collegiate athletes representing 47 teams and 19 sports across NCAA Divisions I, II and III.

Harris remarked how this event was the rst of its kind at the White House, and commended the