The American team opened the 2010 Archery World Cup in a dominating fashion beside the Adriatic sea town of Porec, Croatia on Wednesday. The four men's compound archers are ranked in the top six. Reigning World Champion Reo Wilde (Pocatello, Idaho) leads the way for Team USA by shooting a ranking round 707 that ranks him second out of 99 archers. Wilde's round was highlighted by punching the 10-count circle 59 times. Additionally, the men's compound team set a new World Record in Wednesday's ranking round.
Braden Gellenthien (Woodbridge, Va.), who was the 2009 World Cup silver medalist, is sitting third in men's compound with a round of 706. Dave Cousins (Standish, Maine), the 2007 World Cup silver medalist, and Rodger Willett Jr. (Glouchester, Va.) each shot a 701, which ranks them 5th and 6th overall, respectively.
The men's compound team, which takes the individual scores for the overall team ranking, are ranked first overall with a score of 2,114 points. The U.S. team will shoot in the team elimination round on May 7 and be represented by Cousins, Gellenthien and Wilde. This men's score set a new FITA World Record. The previous record was 2,103 established by France in 2008.
Archers compete at four qualifying World Cup stages earning valuable points based on final placement in hopes of earning one of the 32 athlete positions that will compete in the World Cup Finals in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sept. 18-19. The second leg of the World Cup will be hosted in Anatalya, Turkey, and Shanghai, China will play host to the final fourth qualifying stage. Ogden, Utah will host the pivotal third leg of the event, Aug. 3-7.
The women's compound archers have similar results to their male counterparts, led by Jamie Van Natta (Toledo, Ohio) with a 688 to rank her second overall, and Erika Anschutz (Hamilton, Ohio), who shot a 682 to place her third. Van Natta found the center a total of 44 times with a total of 22 Xs.
Brittany Lorenti (Trumbull, Conn.) shot a 669 to place her 21st, while Diane Watson (Hudson, Fla.) shot a 666 for a 26th-place finish. All four will advance to the elimination round on Thursday.
As a team, Van Natta, Anschutz and Watson scored a collective 2,036 to place them first in the women's compound team division. Team USA is just ahead of powerhouse Russia, who scored 2,033.
2008 U.S. Olympian Brady Ellison (Chula Vista, Calif.) leads the way for the men's recurve squad with a 671-point ranking round total. USA Archery resident athlete Jake Kaminski (Chula Vista, Calif.) finished the day with a 667, placing him 11th overall. Three-time Olympian Vic Wunderle (Charlotte, N.C.) is 24th overall with a 660-point total. USA Archery resident athlete Jacob Wukie (Chula Vista, Calif.) shot 653 points to place 34th overall. All recurve archers will advance to the elimination round that will start on Thursday.
The men's recurve squad is ranked third overall with a collective 1,998 score, which puts them behind India and Italy, who shot 2,017 and 2,011, respectively.
Two-time Olympian Jennifer Nichols (Cheyenne, Wyo.) shot a smooth 641 to in the ranking round to place her seventh going into Thursday's elimination round. Khatuna Lorig (West Hollywood, Calif.), who is a four-time Olympian for three different countries, sits 14th with a 632. Heather Koehl (Chula Vista, Calif.) shot a 583 that ranked her 66th overall. Kristin Braun (Chula Vista, Calif.) rounded out the women's recurve team with a 573 that left her in 70th, and missed qualifying for the elimination round. Only the top 64 archers in each of the individual categories advance to the elimination round.
The women's recurve team is ranked 10th overall with a combined total of 1,856 points.
Thursday's competition will feature the individual elimination round through the semi finals. On May 7, the team elimination rounds will be conducted through the semifinals as well. All finalists in individual, team and mixed team (one male and one female in both recurve and compound) categories will compete on Saturday, May 8 to determine the 2010 Archery World Cup Stage 1 champions.
The Archery World Cup, which started in 2006, has been a popular event for FITA, the international federation for archery. The event allows organizers to select unique competition venues. In Porec, the athletes will shoot the final matches over the water in the beautiful marina. The Archery World Cup has grown into one of the annual premiere events for the international federation that attracts approximately 300 athletes from 30 countries at each of the various qualifying stages.
In 2010, the third stage of the 2010 World Cup will be hosted in Ogden, Utah, August 3-7. This leg is being organized by the Easton Sports Development Foundation, USA Archery, Ogden Weber Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Utah Sports Commission.
Team USA will be led by USA Archery National and Head Coach Kisik Lee (San Diego); assistant coach Michael Usherenko (Oakland, N.J.); and team manager Cindy Bevilacqua (West Chester, Pa.).
For results of the 2010 Archery World Cup in Porec, Croatia, click here.
Also, USA Archery High Performance Manager Robby Beyer will be providing sideline Tweets throughout the competition. Make sure to follow USA Archery on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usaarchery.
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