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2008 Holmen High School graduate Eric Gunderson finished third among underclassmen at last spring's Division 1 state track and field meet in the 300-meter hurdles. He came close to matching that spot among all finishers at this year's meet, earning a spot on the post-race awards podium by taking fifth.

Gunderson was about two-tenths of a second off his personal-record time of 39.71 seconds from the sectional at Empire Stadium May 22, but his finals time of 39.92 seconds was .24 of a second clear of Appleton East's Elliot Spierings for the final stand spot. Gunderson's preliminaries time of 39.98 seconds was two-tenths of a second clear of 10th-place Lechein Neblett of Madison Memorial.

“It's hard to find fault with his races,” Holmen boys head coach Steve King said. “He didn't have the perfect race, but getting the podium's not too bad. Getting to the podium is quite an accomplishment for any athlete.”

King, along with hurdles events and girls head coach Paul Berge, said Gunderson had yet to run a perfect race this season.

“He ran well,” Berge said. “We were waiting for that perfect race without a stutter, but he was in great shape to finish strong. He was a little too close to the pack at the corner, and we were hoping to get him a touch higher on the podium.”

Gunderson was making his second appearance at state. King said before the meet the year of experience should help, with Gunderson finishing ninth overall at state last spring.

“He knew what to expect,” King said. “He was seventh or eighth coming around the corner, but in the span of one hurdle in the final 100 he was up to fourth. If he wouldn't have stuttered, he would have finished fourth.”

King also said entering the race that the middle 100 meters would be the key to Gunderson's race.

“He didn't have a great middle 100, but when you're running against the best in the state, it's hard to tell,” King said. “But he held his own, and was always strong on his last 100 meters. He made up the most in the last 100 meters of any hurdler we've ever had.”

Gunderson matched his finals seed a year ago, when had to run in the far outside ninth lane. Gunderson's preliminary time moved him up to the seventh lane for this year's finals.

“Being inside helps with the race having a pretty wide corner,” King said. “It helps to be able to see who's out front of you, and Eric fed off having runners in front of him. Being in lane nine last year was a lot tougher.”

Gunderson will attend the University of Minnesota this fall. Gunderson entered the meet seeming to have some sort of shot to eclipse the school record, but Chuck Mahlum's 1988 time of 39.12 seconds remains the school mark.