Competition opened today at the World Archery Para Championships in Torino, Italy. With Paralympic Games quota spots at stake, as well as World Championship titles and medals, the U.S. team started strong, with archers shooting a 144 arrow qualification round for the open compound men's and women's categories.
Lewis Denton is the top U.S. qualifier today, shooting a 1344 to qualify ninth. He is followed by teammate Eric Bennett, in 15th with a 1337, and John Bellora, ranking 23rd with a 1329. Together, their scores have qualified the U.S. second in team qualifications, behind Korea. The third ranked team is the Czech Republic.
Also competing for the United States today was Martha Barnett, the United States' sole entry in the open compound women's category. Barnett has qualified number thirty two in her category, scoring 1199 in today's round.
Leading the open compound men's ranking round was Phillipe Horner (SUI) with his score of 1374; Ouk Soo Lee (KOR), shooting a 1369, and John Stubbs (GBR) with a 1365. On the women's side, leaders were Great Britain's Danielle Brown with her score of 1386; Zandra Reppe (SWE), shooting a 1375, and Stapanida Artakhinova (RUS) with a 1360.
Team USA para archers will continue to compete throughout the week. Tomorrow's competition will feature the W1 men's category, with archers Jerry Shields, Jeff Fabry and Chuck Lear shooting for the United States. They will be joined by standing men archers Steve Bosson, Michael Lukow and Travis Akin. On Thursday, the standing women's category will compete, with archers Lee Ford, D'arce Hess and Natalie Wells shooting their qualification rounds. "We're an awesome team," commented USA Archery Para Head Coach Randi Smith. "We can do it!"
Complete information, schedule and results may be found online at http://www.archery.org. Join the excitement of this truly international event by following USA Archery on Twitter and liking us on Facebook for updates, photos and more!
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