LIMERICK, Ireland – It proved to be a golden day in the Emerald Isle on Saturday as Team USA added to their already healthy haul of medals at the World Archery Youth Championships.
An emotional Sydney Sullenberger claimed gold in the compound U21 women’s event, having watched Dewey Hathaway become a double world champion with victory in the compound U18 men, to go with the gold he won in the mixed team event earlier in the week.
The USA had two archers on the podium in the compound U18 women competition, with Leann Drake taking silver and Liko Arreola the bronze.
A teary Sullenberger said after her 140-138 win over Hazal Burun (TUR), “Not even in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen, so it’s nice to see all the hard work pay off.”
Hathaway exceeded his expectations in becoming an individual world champion, defeating Jonas Grigaravicius 143-141, and this after being forced to a one-arrow shoot-off in his last 16 match.
“I did not ever expect to be considered a world champion,” he admitted. “But now that I’m able to be, that’s the coolest feeling ever.”
Earlier, in the compound U21 men’s event, Sawyer Sullivan made it to the last 16, before losing to eventual fourth-placed Stef Willems of the Netherlands.
In the same division, Isaac Sullivan and Nathan Wilken fell a round earlier. Isaac came up against Slovenia’s Aljaz Matija Brenk, who took silver.
Landyn Cox caused an early upset in the compound U18 men when the 25th seed ousted eighth seed Pawan Gat (IND). Cox made it to the quarterfinals, before his quest for a second medal at these championships was ended with defeat to eventual bronze medalist and top seed Franco De Wet (RSA).
Grady Kane’s charge was also halted by a South African. Having come through his first round, Kane lost out to second seed Hendre Verhoef, who would go on to finish fourth.
Carson Krahe finished sixth in the compound U21 women. She lost in the quarterfinals to eventual winner and teammate Sullenberger. Makenna Proctor defeated Jennifer Winsenne (SWE) in her first actual contest (her scheduled opponent in the previous pulled out due to injury), but came up short against India’s Pragati in the last 16.
Olivia Dean’s hopes of a third medal at the championships were dashed by teammate Drake, who beat her in the quarterfinals. Dean placed eighth overall.
The championships end on Sunday, with recurve stepping into the spotlight. Benjamin Hur faces Riley Spencer-Nice of Great Britain in the recurve U21 men. Victory in that encounter could set up a meeting with teammate Dylan Soong in the next round. Soong faces Maksymilian Osuch of Poland. The other member of the recurve U21 men, Landon Richardson, takes on Kwun Pok Lucien Law of Hong Kong.
In the recurve U21 women’s category, Casey Kaufhold, as top seed in qualification, gets a bye direct to the last 32, where she will face either Olha Shubkina (UKR) or Salome Kharshiladze (GEO).
There’s the potential for a last 16 clash with close friend and teammate Catalina GNoriega. GNoriega must first overcome one of Lucia Ibáñez Romero (ESP) or Nuala Edmundson (NZL).
Like GNoriega, Emma Kim also has a bye until the last 32, where she will go against Klaudia Plaza of Poland.
Joshua Baek already had to win through one elimination match in the recurve U18 men, defeating Han Qian Wong of Singapore 7-1 on Tuesday. Christian Stoddard, the 12th seed, will start versus Bohdan Ilyin (UKR), with Pierce McAdam taking on Yuval Lankri (ISR).
Riley Tateyama, like Baek, already has one elimination round win under her belt. She resumes on Sunday against 10th seed Yijing Bao from China. Teammate Cham Chung seeks to overcome Anna Kolodziejczyk (POL), with Gabrielle Sasai meeting Melina Koepper (GER).
Latest scores, schedules, brackets and results are available for the World Archery Youth Championships. There will also be daily photo galleries from Ireland.
