Bemidji HS at state: Truedson takes fifth place

Erik Truedson put the Bemidji Lumberjacks into the scoring column at the state track meet Friday when he took fifth place in the 3,200 meter run at Hamline.

It marked a four place advance for the senior distance star who finished ninth in the same event last year.

Truedson, who finished second to Drew Paradis of Alexandria in 9:29.08 at the sectional, ran a 9:24 at the state.

He will run today in the 1,600, an event he won at the sectional, beating Paradis.

Selina Gilbertson failed to reach her section meet distance and finished 14 in a field of 16 in the discus.

Jessica Cagle of Grand Rapids retained her title though failing to reach her meet record 162-4 set last year.

Gilbertson, who went 109-11 to take second at the sectional, heaved the disc 106-7.

Joe Kingery will join Truedson at today's final day's competition in the high jump where he hopes to improve on his 6-4 winning height at the sectional. At last years state, a 6-4 height took sixth place.

Tennis meet

At the nearby University of Minnesota tennis complex, Bemidji's Sam Weaver and Ben Holter saw their season end one match short of contending for a trophy.

The Bemidji tandem lost in the consolation semifinals to Pete Stadum and Quinn Foley of Mahtomedi 6-1, 6-3.

The win advanced the Mahtomedi pair to the consolation championship.

Weaver and Holter closed their year at 9-5, put together in the late season for tournament play after holding the No 1 and 2 singles berths much of the year, Holter will return for his senior season in 2010.