COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -(Ammoland.com)- Ten USA Shooting athletes will kick off the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup season February 24 – March 2 in New Delhi, India.
Results from the Fall Selection Match in October were combined with results from July’s USA Shooting National Championship to determine team spots for 2017 World Cups.
Top aggregate scores from three courses of fire (one from Nationals and two from Fall Selection) plus three separate Finals helped determine overall placement and selection.
The remaining World Cup start positions were filled by National Coach staff selection; a process that included consideration of scores at national-level competitions, results at international events, as well as other factors.
First up on the docket in New Delhi is Women’s Trap with Kayle Browning-Thomas (Wooster, Arkansas) and Aeriel Skinner (Jackson, California) competing. Browning finished third overall in the World Cup selection process, along with winning silver at Fall Selection.
Men’s Trap is up the following day, led by Fall Selection gold medalist and overall selection winner Jake Wallace (Castaic, California, pictured). Wallace will make his way to India fresh off his win at the Qatar Open in Doha, Qatar. Also competing in Men’s Trap will be 17-year-old up-and-comer Christopher Haire (Anna, Illinois). Haire finished third overall in the World Cup selection process.
“We hope Jake can keep this thing rolling,” said Assistant National Team Coach Jay Waldron. “Kayle is an old hand so look for her to start the year with a strong showing. Aerial is a newbie, but she’s been coming on strong nationally so she could be a dark horse at this event.”
Six-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode (El Monte, California), along with World Championship silver medalist Caitlin Connor (Winnfield, Louisiana) and Haley Dunn (Katy, Texas) will round out the strong Women’s Skeet contingent that competes on March 1. Connor won the Fall Selection match, as well as the overall selection process.
The Men’s Skeet side will be led by Kyle Johnson (Akwatykee, Arizona), Zach McBee (College Station, Texas) and Hayden Stewart (U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit/Columbia, Tennessee).
Johnson and McBee both qualified for their spots through their finishes at Fall Selection. Johnson narrowly missed out on gold at Fall Selection when he lost in a shootoff to winner Dustan Taylor (USAMU/Staley, North Carolina). The men’s competition will close out the World Cup with Finals on March 2.
More than 450 athletes from 50 countries are expected to compete in the rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines. This World Cup is the first in India in 14 years, as the last World Cups here were in 1997, 2000 and 2003.
Only shotgun athletes from the United States will compete in Men’s and Women’s Trap and Skeet events. USA Shooting chose not to send rifle and pistol athletes as part of the 2017 India World Cup based on a performance plan model to concentrate resources toward one World Cup (Munich) this competitive season.
World Cup New Delhi Finals Schedule:
(All times listed are ET. New Delhi is 10.5 hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone).
Friday, February 24th: Trap Women at 5 a.m.
Saturday, February 25th: Trap Men at 5 a.m.
Wednesday, March 1st: Skeet Women at 5 a.m.
Thursday, March 2nd: Skeet Men at 4 a.m.
Most of the Finals are expected to be streamed live on the ISSF Livestream page.
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Winchester Ammunition:
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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.