Shanghai, China - The U.S. team of archers at the fourth World Cup stage in Shanghai this week will come home to real excitement from the archery community: together, the team collected nine medals, and from the compound women, a new world record - a feat not accomplished by any other team at this event.
For the U.S. compound archers, this World Cup event was a true success, and all of the compound archers contributed to the teams' successes, whether through high qualification scores, being part of a world record setting team, winning individual medals, or shooting for team titles.
In the case of the U.S. compound men's team of Reo Wilde, Braden Gellenthien and Rodger Willett, Jr., this team won not only the team gold medal today after edging out India, but also finished their season undefeated - they have won literally every World Cup stage this year, and the World Championships. Since the team event is not featured in the upcoming World Cup Final, the U.S. compound men have finished their international season with a perfect record.
Today's match was the first time that the Indian and U.S. teams had met during an international event, according to World Archery. The U.S. started out strong, taking a three point lead from the beginning, and despite trailing, "India continued to hold a fair share of ground in the second end, scoring 58 points. However, the USA did the same and still led by three points." Both teams tied the third end, but the U.S. finished with a 59 to take their fourth and final gold medal victory of the season, 235-229.
For the compound women's team, they faced a difficult competitor in Russia, who was able to edge out the U.S. women earlier this year in Porec. However, the U.S. team of Jamie Van Natta, Diane Watson and Christie Colin was ready for this matchup, and opened with a six point lead in the first end. The women of Team USA continued with a strong performance, leading their opponent on all but one end. For the last six arrows, Van Natta, Watson and Colin posted a 58 with six X's to take a gold medal victory, 227-214.
Individually, Van Natta and Anschutz met in the women's individual gold medal match, pitting two top ranked archers against one another. "Surprisingly, the two women from the USA have never met before in the World Cup, " noted World Archery. Anschutz, the number one ranked archer going into the World Cup Final, began with a one point lead, but Van Natta picked up points in the second, third and fourth ends. "Anschutz put some pressure on in the last end with a ten-ten-nine," according to World Archery. "Van Natta answered with a ten and nine, and shook a little with her last arrow. However, she scored a ten and kept a two point margin for the victory, 145-143."
In the compound men's individual final, Reo Wilde faced Canada's Dietmar Trillus. This was a matchup of two powerhouse archers, both world champions, and both World Cup Final medalists. In Wilde's case, he clinched a berth to the Final in Istanbul this week, which will be his first Final since 2006. In their match, Wilde had an immediate advantage with six perfect arrows to take a three point lead, 60-57. However, Trillus had an equipment problem in the third and and shot a miss, hitting the scoreboard. Undaunted, Wilde continued with tens throughout the match for the gold medal win, 150-133.
Logan Wilde (USA) also competed in the final today, shooting for the bronze medal against Mexico's Angel Ramirez. Wilde initially opened with a one point lead, but Ramirez shot three tens for a two point advantage. Though Wilde fought back tie it up after three ends, Ramirez regained the lead, and ended with a one point victory and the bronze medal, 144-143.
The U.S. team was supported by a full coaching and team leadership staff at this event, including coaches Guy Krueger and Mel Nichols, and team leaders Cindy Bevilacqua and Julie Nichols. USA Archery thanks the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Easton Foundations for their support of the U.S. teams at this event. For scores, visit http://www.archery.org; the matches may be watched (pre-recorded) at http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/source/espn3/sport/outdoors/#type/replay/.
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