LAKE PLACID, N.Y., July 12, 2002 - As the weather heated up on Friday, so did the competition at the third annual ESPN Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge. Six sports were to wrap up competition and there was preliminary action in an additional four events.

The Fly Fishing category awarded a gold medal to Boise, Idaho's Peter Erickson. Erickson brought in an 18 1/2 inch trout to edge silver medallist Andy Fisher of Cody, Wyo.'s 16 3/4 inch catch. Little Rock, Ark.'s Chuck Farneth brought in a 16 1/4 inch fish to claim the bronze.

"I was fishing the worst beat and I felt terrible. Getting the winning fish was a surprise," said Erickson.

In the timber events, medals were awarded in Men's and Women's Boom Run as well as Mixed Doubles Boom Run.

Jamie Fischer of Stillwater, Minn., was the gold medal winner in the Men's Boom Run, posting a score of 13.016. Fellow Minnesotan JR Salzman of Rochester posted a 14.811 to claim the silver and Hayward, Wisc.'s Cassidy Scheer took home the bronze with a 17.467.

Fischer has definitely enjoyed his time at the Great Outdoor Games.

"I love them, they are the best thing to ever happen to the sport!" he said. "The crowd was great and it is a great experience!"

Mandy Erdmann, of Lacrosse, Wisc., flew across the Boom Run faster that any other competitor to become a three-time Great Outdoor Games gold medallist, having won the event in 2000 and 2001, and raised her personal medal count to four.

Erdmann beat out Shana Martin of Madison, Wisc. in the finals with a winning score of 15.939. Martin took the silver medal with a score of 25.176. Claremont, Calif.'s Margaret Bulk scored a 17.467 in the third place contest to claim the bronze.

"I was hoping to complete a three-peat and I did. It was awesome!" Erdmann replied when asked about her 2002 Great Outdoor Game experience.

Erdmann also picked up a silver medal in the Mixed Doubles Boom Run where she was partnered with Doug Goodman of Wayzata, Minn. The pair scored a 32.588 to finish in the runner-up spot behind gold medallists Taylor Duffy and Jamie Fisher's 31.068. Abbigail Hoeschler of Lacrosse, Wisc. and JR Salzman took the bronze with a 33.829.

Clemons, N.C. archer Randy Hendrix advanced through the bracketed field to defeat silver medallist Randy Ulmer of Cave Creek, Ariz. for the gold by a score of 27 to 21. Darren Collins, of Galena, Kan., edged Butch Johnson for the bronze, 33-27.

"This is just the best event compared to any others. Head-to-head battle and fast," said Hendrix. "It's not like any other event. Timing was everything because it's such a fast event."

Final round action in the Shotgun competition was set to conclude late Friday evening.

Prliminary rounds were held on Friday in Women's Endurance, Large and Small Dog Agility, Men's Timber Endurance and Bass Fishing.

The Bass Fishing competition narrowed the field of 10 to only six for the finals. Two-time Great Outdoor Games gold medal winner Peter Thilveros was one of those advancing to the medal round.

"My stomach was in knots this morning," Thliveros said. "I couldn't eat anything ... thinking about this tournament. I'll fish a lot easier tomorrow."

In the medal count, the United States now leads the international competition by an 18-medal margin over Australia. Wisconsin athletes have now claimed 6 medals, giving their state a one-medal lead over neighboring Minnesota.