MEDELLIN, Colombia – A 16-strong USA team is in South America for the World Cup Stage 3 in Medellin, which starts on Tuesday, with a focus on the team competition due to the 2024 Olympic Games looming on the horizon.
“Goal (in Medellin) is to improve individually, of course, and also with our team rounds,” admitted recurve archer Casey Kaufhold. “This is a big year for qualifying Olympic team spots.”
There have been two previous World Cup stages, in Turkey and China. There is a fourth stage to come in Paris, before the World Cup final in Mexico in September.
Kaufhold, Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez and Catalina GNoriega used last week’s SoCal Showdown to fine tune their rotations as preparation for World Cup Stage 3 and beyond.
“We did something a little bit different to what we normally do,” continued Kaufhold. “In the past, it’s been Catalina first, Jenni then me. I usually anchor just because of speed.
“This time around we have Jenni going up front, Catalina in the middle, and then myself, and so that gives us a little more time on the clock.
“I feel like we have a good system down. And we really worked together well to make something good happen, so I feel confident going into the next few events.
Recurve gets underway in Medellin on Wednesday, with the team including veteran Brady Ellison who, like Kaufhold, placed an emphasis on the collective rather than the individual in Colombia.
“The focus for the World Cups is more on the team side, trying to get the world rank up,” Ellison said.
Compound gets Stage 3 underway in Colombia on Tuesday, with men and women involved. The women’s team has a youthful feel to it with teenagers Liko Arreola and Olivia Dean. SoCal Showdown winner Alexis Ruiz will look to continue her resurgence in 2023.
USA Team
Recurve: Gabriel Anderson, Brady Ellison, Catalina GNoriega, Casey Kaufhold, Emma Kim, Jackson Mirich, Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez, Jack Williams.
Compound: Liko Arreola, Olivia Dean, Nick Kappers, James Lutz, Alexis Ruiz, Kris Schaff, Sawyer Sullivan, Danelle Wentzel-Lutz.
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