[10] As of 2017[update], New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston had an ongoing search to learn his burial location.

[13] While regular track and field events were taking place at the Columbia Oval (located in an area that was then part of Williamsbridge but is now called Norwood, in the Bronx borough), 28 athletes, almost all from the New York City area, had earlier traveled by train to Stamford, Connecticut, for the marathon race.

The course began at the Stamford Armory, and proceeded through Riverside, Cos Cob, Greenwich, Port Chester, Rye, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, New Rochelle, East Chester, Woodlawn, and William's Bridge,[14] finishing with two laps on the Columbia Oval.

[15] The roads for the first eight miles (13 km) were in terrible condition, covered in mud and slush from heavy precipitation that morning.

McDermott, representing the Pastime Athletic Club of New York City, took the lead at New Rochelle, about seven miles (11 km) from the finish, and held that lead, completing the race in the time of 3:25:55.6, two and a half minutes ahead of the second-place athlete, cross-country runner Hamilton Gray.

The initial lead was taken by Hamilton Gray, second in the New York race, and Dick Grant, a Harvard track athlete from St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada.

McDermott continued to extend his lead through the Newton Hills, beginning to combine walking and running at about the twenty-mile (32 km) mark at Evergreen Cemetery.

He finished with a lap of the Irvington Oval, part of a track and field meet conducted by the Boston Athletic Association.