ANTALYA, Turkey – Sawyer Sullivan flew the flag for the USA on Thursday as he battled through four elimination rounds to reach the semifinals of the compound men event at the Archery World Cup Stage 1.
Sullivan will tackle a familiar face in the last four when he meets two-time Arizona Cup winner Mike Schloesser (NED) on Saturday afternoon, in a repeat of last year's Gator Cup gold medal match. The other semifinal involves Jozef Bosansky (SVK) and Mohd Juwaidi Mazuki (MAS).
It means a potentially super Saturday beckons for Sullivan, as he will be joining forces with Braden Gellenthian and James Lutz on Saturday morning to play Denmark for gold in the compound men's team event.
On Thursday, the 19-year-old from Minnesota started with a 147-143 win over South Africa’s Hendre Verhoef in the round of 32. His next match was a little tighter, against Da Hastian (INA), which went to a one arrow shoot-off.
Scores of 148 in both of his next matches were good enough to get beyond Tim Jevsnik (SLO) and Daniel Munoz (COL), to set up a semifinal showdown with Schloesser.
There are more elimination matches on Friday, including the recurve team of Casey Kaufhold and Brady Ellison. They face either the Netherlands or Czech Republic in the last eight. Kaufhold and Ellison then go their separate ways to compete in the remaining individual recurve matches.
Recurve elimination began on Thursday, with Jackson Mirich overcoming Abdur Rahman Alif (BAN) 6-0 to set up a round of 32 meeting with Australia’s Ryan Tyack. Jack Williams won through his match, defeating Jonah Wilthagen (NED) 6-5, and will now take on Jean-Charles Valladont (FRA). Ellison enters at this stage, and will be up against Lukas Kurz (AUT).
Elimination rounds also continue on Friday in the recurve women’s event. Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez came through her round of 64 match against Karyna Kazlouskaya (POL) on Thursday, winning 6-0. Next up is Muyan Qiu (CHN). Gabrielle Sasai also faces Chinese opposition in Qixuan An, after overcoming Solomiya Hnyp of Ukraine 6-2. Kaufhold starts in the round 32, with Rezza Octavia (INA) her opponent, as does Catalina GNoriega. GNoriega meets Ankita Bhakat (IND).
Brady Ellison vs. Lukas Kurz (AUT)
Jackson Mirich vs. Ryan Tyack (AUS)
Jack Williams vs. Jean-Charles Valladont (FRA)
Casey Kaufhold vs. Rezza Octavia (INA)
Catalina GNoriega vs. Ankita Bhakat (IND)
Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez vs. Muyan Qiu (CHN)
Gabriella Sasai vs. Qixuan An (CHN)
