USA Shooting National Championships
The USA Shooting Nationals have begun. Abby is competing in these Nationals trying to earn a spot on a National or Junior National Team.
From the press release by USA Shooting
With much of the year left to unfold, it’s hard to believe that thoughts of 2015 will be on the minds of all competitors as the 2014 USA Shooting National Championships for Shotgun get underway August 2 in Colorado Springs.
Proving yourself as an elite member of the USA Shooting Team isn’t a once-in-while type thing. No, it happens with every pull of the trigger and this year’s Nationals is no exception. Even before the 30 members of the USA Shooting Team for shotgun competes overseas in Granada, Spain, for the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championships, they will already be out starting to try and earn their spot on select teams for the 2015 ISSF World Cup season.
Part one of a two-part selection process is upon all athletes competing at Nationals for 2015 World Cups that include Mexico (March), United Arab Emirates (March), Cyprus (April) and Azerbaijan (August). All competitors will shoot two qualifying rounds of 150 targets and the competition will include two separate finals. The aggregate of points earned from both qualifications plus finals will determine medalists, National Team members and National Champions. The National Championships are serving as part one of the World Cup selection process with the Fall Selection Match in Tillar, Arkansas, set to be the second course of fire.
In addition, all 30 World Team members are expected to compete with Nationals serving as the final major tune-up for athletes set to compete at World Championships.
In Saturday's rounds, Abby shot 20, 20 and 22. She leads her age group by 4 birds. She is tied for 12th overall in the Women's Group. She started today's rounds at 8 am, and shot another 20.
Abby averaged 18.4 at the Junior Olympic Championships, where she earned the Bronze medal for her age group. She is on track for the goal of 20 her Coach set for her at this event
Here is what her schedule for the Nationals looks like
National Championships for Shotgun Schedule
8/2 Trap Qualifying 75 targets
8/3 Trap Qualifying + Final I (50 Targets)
8/4 Trap Qualifying 75 Targets
8/5 Trap Qualifying + Final II (50 Targets)
As a side note, Two time Olympian Corey Cogdell is leading the Women Shooters with first day rounds of 23, 25 and 25. There are 2 former Olympians and 6 current World Cup Womens Shooters in this competition.
Abby qualified to shoot at these matches via her finishes at the Florida Junior Olympic Championships, where she won Women's Gold, The Georgia Junior Olympic Championships, where she won Women's Overall (couldn't win the gold medal because she is not Georgia resident) and the Bronze she won at the Junior Olympic Championships july 8 - 11, 2014. She knows that winning an overall Women's Medal will be tough. She has to tie for 6th or better to get to the shootoff for the medal round. This is her first Nationals and the experience here will be a tremendous help going into the Fall Selection Matches at Tilla Ar., in November. The Olympic Team that will be competing in Rio in 2016 will be chosen from the members of these National, Junior national and World Cup Teams. Every competition she competes in earns her points towards making one of these teams.
This is what your Raffle tickets are funding, a young Girl's Olympic Dream.
