PHOENIX, Ariz. – It was a day of upsets and drama as medals were handed out in the senior division on day two of the Arizona Cup.
The consistent Casey Kaufhold retained her recurve women’s title with a come-from-behind 7-3 win over Emma Kim. In a meeting of two of the world’s top compound men, it was Denmark’s Mathias Fullerton who edged Mike Schloesser of the Netherlands in a one arrow shootoff.
The barebow women’s title was claimed by 2023 champion Cindy Czako over Diane Cochran, with that contest also determined by a shootoff.
Marcus Cooley successfully defended his Arizona Cup title, beating Andrew Cousins 7-3. Olivia Dean held off a late charge from Abigail Winterton to win the compound women’s event, while Jack Williams overcame Canada’s Devaang Gupta to take the recurve men’s crown.
All archers battled testing conditions. While the wind picked up from previous days, the temperature dropped by around 20 degrees.
The Williams vs. Gupta gold medal match was not one many expected. Top seed Brady Ellison tumbled at the 1/8th round, defeated 6-0 by defending champion Jackson Mirich, who then exited at the next stage when losing to eventual winner Williams 6-2.
There were upsets in the compound women’s competition. World number one, Ella Gibson, was beaten in the 1/8th round by former Columbia University archer Sachiko Keane. Top seed Paige Pearce was ousted at the quarterfinal stage by Winterton courtesy of a one arrow shootoff. Winterton then won with a score of 30 on the final end to get the better of Alexis Ruiz in the semifinal before falling to Dean in the gold medal match.
Bronze medals went to Ruiz (compound women), James Lutz (compound men), Seth McWherter (recurve men), Kyungwook Kim (recurve women) - the double Olympic gold medalist in Atlanta in 1996 - Christina Lyons (barebow women) and Wallace Woodlief (Barebow Men).
Qualification took place on Friday afternoon in the 50+ division. Barbara Carroll of Arizona posted the top score in barebow 50+ women of 522, with 80-year-old Phyllis Shipman of Hawaii sitting second after a 517. A familiar name sits atop the barebow 50+ men, with Rick Stonebraker leading the way after a score of 595.
Arizona has a one-two after qualification in the compound 50+ men, with Kenneth Brunko and defending champion Larry Butterfield occupying the top two spots. Another Arizona archer, Deanna Cronin, is top seed in the compound 50+ women.
Former compound archer Janis Grellner is the one to beat in recurve 50+ women. The Level 2 coach is ahead of second seed Nicole Rasor, another archer based in Arizona. Ted Holland finished top of the tree in the recurve 50+ men.
Elimination in the 50+ division takes place on Saturday morning. The U21 and U18 qualification round is set for Saturday afternoon.
Latest scores and results from the Arizona Cup can be found on Between Ends, with action photos from each day of competition.
