Colorado Springs, CO -(AmmoLand.com)- Three-hundred Junior Shotgun athletes from across the nation have gathered at the USA Shooting International Shooting Complex just outside Colorado Springs, Colorado in anticipation of the 2015 National Junior Olympic Shooting Championships (NJOSC), July 22-27.
During the recent USA Shooting National Championships (USANC), Junior athletes in all Shotgun disciplines proved their abilities against decorated Open category competitors, making the National and Junior National team. This week’s NJOSC is the second half of the junior team qualifier for participation at the upcoming 2015 Shotgun World Championships in Lonato, Italy later this year. The first part of the qualifier was the results from the USANC.
Medalists from Nationals highlight the field of competitors. In Men’s Trap, look out for Dustin McGowen (Greenwood, Arkansas), who had a breakout performance on these ranges in June, placing second in the Open category at USANC. Recent Pan-American Games participant Myles Walker (Elkhorn, Wisconsin) looks to fight for the gold after just missing the final in Toronto. Walker was the top finisher during USA Shooting’s Spring Selection Match and will compete in a World Cup event in Azerbaijan in August and has already made the open World Champs team.Also having recent success at the Junior Cup in Suhl, Germany is Ryne Barfield (Poulan, Georgia), who has traveled and competed in international matches for the last two years as part of the National Junior Team.
The Women’s Trap lineup also has many young and talented athletes looking to continue their success and lead them to World Championships. Currently in the lead for the World Championships qualification is Grace Hambuchen (Maumelle, Arkansas), who won the Junior category at USANC and was appointed to National Junior Team after finishing second in last year’s event. Cheyenne Waldrop(Foresthill, California) sits in second, looking to overtake the lead and qualify in first for the Junior World Team. Currently third in qualification is Emily Hampson (Saint Charles, Missouri), who recently traveled with Waldrop to the Junior Cup in Suhl. Hampson placed first at the Junior Cup, followed by Waldrop in second.
Double Trap athlete Dale Royer (Jackson, Montana) holds the lead for the Junior World Team qualification after placing third in the Open category and winning the Junior title at USANC. Royer currently has a four-target lead over Hank Garvey (Newburyport, Massachusetts), who holds a nine- target lead over defending NJOSC Champion Jesse Haynes-Lewis (Nahant, Massachusetts).The top three qualifiers so far also recently competed at the Junior Cup, where they won team silver.
The 2014 Junior Olympic Skeet Champion Phillip Jungman (Caldwell, Texas) looks to continue his recent run of success after becoming Junior Champion at USANC and winning a silver medal at the Junior Cup. After scoring a 244 in qualification, only one target separated Jungman from a third-place finish overall in the Open category. Also looking for strong second round for the Junior World Team qualification is Christian Elliot (Greenwood, Indiana) who sits eight targets behind Jungman. Currently sitting in third for the qualification is Taz Gloria(Tuscon, Arizona), who is only four targets behind Elliot.
Another impressive Junior Team member who recently broke through to the National Team is Dania Vizzi (Odessa, Florida), the 2014 Junior World Champion and recent USANC Junior Champion and Open bronze medalist. Vizzi currently holds a decisive 20-target lead over the second place qualification score for the Junior World Team, held by Katharina Jacob (Rochester, Michigan). The gap closes between second and third-place contenders, where Sydney Carson (North Liberty, Indiana) is only 11 targets behind Jacob.
2015 NJOSC Shotgun Schedule
- Wednesday, July 22 – Trap Official Training
- Thursday, July 23 – Trap Qualification (75 Targets)
- Friday, July 24 – Trap Qualification (50 Targets) + Final
- Saturday, July 25 – Skeet Official Training, Double Trap Official Training
- Sunday, July 26 – Skeet Qualification (75 Targets), Double Trap Qualification (150 Targets) + Final
- Monday, July 27 – Skeet Qualification (50 Targets) + Final
FOLLOW THE EVENT OR PARTICIPATE YOURSELF VIA USA SHOOTING’S SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS BY USING THE HASHTAG — #NJOSC15
For schedules and a complete program, click here.
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About USA Shooting
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country.
Check us out on the web at usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.