ANTALYA, Turkey – USA struck gold at the Archery World Cup Stage 1 on Saturday, with the compound women winning the team event with a 230-229 win over Colombia.
The trio of Cassidy Cox, Madison Cox and Danelle Lutz claimed the first of three medals won by the USA on day five.
Lutz said, “We knew that when we went out there, we would have to fight the time. Our focus was on good shots and timing.”
There was a nervous ending to the match. With Madison Cox left to shoot, the scores provisionally sat at 230-222, after Cassidy Cox landed a 10. Madison steadied herself and posted an eight, with the USA named gold medal winners after Colombia’s fifth arrow was marked down from a 10 to a nine, but after the USA’s final archer had pushed close to time.
“We’re all slow shooters,” admitted a smiling Madison. “So, the last three arrows we knew we were going to have to be quick. And there was kind of some wind, but walking up to the last arrow, knowing that it could determine the match, I guess I took a little longer than I should of, but we got them off and it worked.”
The women’s success was followed by silver for the compound men of Braden Gellenthien, James Lutz and Sawyer Sullivan, edged 234-233 by Denmark. Sullivan picked up his second silver in the individual compound men’s event, losing out 149-148 to Slovakia’s Jozef Bosansky.
Sunday is the final day of competition, with Casey Kaufhold and Brady Ellison going for gold in the recurve mixed team event.
There are four World Cup stages, before the final in Mexico in September. As well as Turkey, there are stages in China, Colombia and France.
Stage 2: Shanghai, China – May 16-21
Stage 3: Medellin, Colombia – June 13-18
Stage 4: Paris, France – August 15-20
Final: Hermosillo, Mexico – September 9-10
