PILSEN, Czech Republic – A new world record was set on day four of the World Archery Para Championships in the compound men open doubles by the USA pairing of Kevin Polish and Matt Stutzman.
Polish and Stutzman combined for a score of 156 in their quarterfinal win over Fernando Gale Montorio and Adrian Martinez Torre, the doubles team from Spain whose world record they beat. The Spanish duo totaled 155 during the Para-Archery European Cup in May.
The new world record holders were defeated by Iran 151-150 in the semifinals, and will next face the Czech Republic on Saturday in the bronze medal match.
In the recurve men open doubles, the USA team of Kevin Mather and Eric Bennett were knocked out in the last 16 by Mongolia. The recurve women open doubles pair of Candice Caesar and Karen Sternfeld also fell at the last 16 stage, when beaten by Indonesia.
Lucas Herro and Jason Tabansky came up against a tough Czech Republic team in the men W1 doubles, and were narrowly defeated 136-133 in the quarterfinals.
Janice Walth got off to a great start in her quarterfinal contest with Craig Newbery (AUS), before losing 6-4 in the visually impaired 1 division. Newbery will shoot for gold on Saturday. Walth finished sixth overall, while there was a ninth place finish for John Hill in the visually impaired 2/3 after a quarterfinal loss to Tanveer Ahmed (PAK).
