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It's not everyday when a record held by the legendary Rob Finnerty goes down.
But that is just what Erik Semling just did.
At the Cotter Invite on May 16th, Semling broke Finnerty's 20-year-old 3200m class record for 8th-graders in Minnesota. Semling ran a time of 9:22.63 to demolish the record by almost 7 seconds. Only Seming and Finnerty have gone under 9:30 for the 3200m as an 8th-grader in Minnesota.
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATE PLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:22.63 | Cotter Schools | 2028 | Cotter Invite 1st F |
| 2 | 9:29.56 | Burnsville High School | 2008 | |
| 3 | 9:35.25 | Annandale High School | 2025 | |
| 4 | 9:35.34 | Mounds View High School | 2023 | Hamline Elite Meet 14th F |
| 5 | 9:36.31 | Chaska High School | 2015 | MSHSL Section 2AA Finals 3rd F |
Coming off a strong cross country season that saw Semling run the fastest middle-school 5K time in state history, Semling had a slower start to his track season, before running a 40-second PR in the 3200m to break the record.
This puts Semling in some elite company as he is jut one of 11 Minnesota boys to run under 9:30 in the 3200m all-time as a freshman or younger. He beats out middle-school times from Minnesota's national champions, state record holders, and Olympians.
Related: Erik Semling Cements Future Star Status in 2023
His time of 9:22.63 also puts him with the #1 3200m time for his class of 2028.
Class of 2028 - Top 3200m Times
| Rank | Runner | Time |
| 1 | Erik Semling | 9:22.63 |
| 2 | Daniel Filiatreau | 9:33.84 |
| 3 | Matthew Ogilvie | 9:41.11 |
| 4 | Mason Burgess | 9:48.34 |
| 5 | Nicolas Duquette | 9:50.97 |
All-time, Semling entered the top-ten 3200m times all-time for 8th-grade boys nationally, coming at in #9.
All-Time 8th-Grade Boys 3200m Times
| Rank | Runner | Time | Year |
| 1 | Stacy Sutter | 9:05.30 | 1981 |
| 2 | Marcelo Mantecon | 9:14.38 | 2023 |
| 3 | Francis Hernandez | 9:15.91 | 2008 |
| 4 | Andrew Gardner | 9:17.34 | 2010 |
| 5 | Keegan Smith | 9:18.12 | 2021 |
| 6 | Ransom Allen | 9:19.70 | 2019 |
| 7 | Garrett Jeffries | 9:21.95 | 2005 |
| 8 | Caden Sauerbrey | 9:22.52 | 2018 |
| 9 | Erik Semling | 9:22.63 | 2024 |
| 10 | Eric Souza-Ponce | 9:24.04 | 2021 |
Erik Semling's remarkable achievement in setting a Minnesota class record for 8th grade in the 3200m is a testament to his exceptional talent and hard work. His performance not only cements his place as one of the best middle-school 3200m runners ever but also sets a high standard for future athletes. Erik's dedication and passion for the sport are truly inspiring, and we can't wait to see what he accomplishes next. Keep an eye on this rising star!