Russian women top compound ranking round in Shanghai

Mariia VINOGRADOVA claimed top seed in Shanghai after shooting a solid score of 699 out of 720 for the 72-arrow ranking round.

She shot consistently throughout before finishing with a sweet 60 to secure the number one rank for the rest of the tournament.

Absent two-time world champ Albina LOGINOVA, the Russian compound women shot an impressive qualification in Shanghai.

Aside from Mariia’s top score, Svetlana CHERKASHNEVA landed in 10th and Natalia AVDEEVA in 16th. AVDEEVA was one of the eight compound women at last season’s Archery World Cup Final.

The winner of that tournament in Lausanne, reigning Archery World Cup Champion Sara LOPEZ, came in a point behind leader Mariia on 698 – and three points ahead of Malaysia’s MAT SALLEH, who had third.

Sara recently set the compound women’s world record for the 50-metre ranking round at 706.

Crystal GAUVIN, now the most experienced archer on the USA’s compound women’s team despite having only one season’s international experience, finished fourth. 

“I was expecting to shoot with people who’ve been doing it for a long time this year,” admitted Crystal, who will have to anchor a States team with a successful history on the World Cup circuit. “I feel like I have to step up and fill the void left by Erica.” (Erica JONES is expecting a baby this summer.)

Over qualification at least, she did a good job of doing just that.

Some issues with the automatic scoring meant it was difficult to see who was on top during the first 36 arrows of the ranking round. Colombia’s Maja MARCEN was shown as leader, but when scores were adjusted she was third – joint, with teammate LOPEZ.

“I was shooting very, very well and I wasn’t checking the score so I did not know where I was,” said Maja, who was born in Slovenia. 

“Yesterday my coach told me I was grouping well, but I said ‘no – I can do better’. So we went to the practice range at the end of the day and moved the rest a little. I started grouping better.” 

At the end of the round, Maja had dropped to seventh and had a 689 total, joint with Antalya 2014 finallist Yesim BOSTAN and Linda OCHOA, who made the World Cup Final last year.

Maja’s 689 was still a personal best by six points in competition.

“In the second half I already felt like I was going to explode – so the last end was the worst one,” she said. “I dropped a lot.”

A closing 54 put Maja just off top-five pace but put her in a shoot-off for a top-eight bye into the third round. She and BOSTAN clinched it, while OCHOA was relegated to ninth.

For Maja, a defending team world champion with LOPEZ and Alejandra USQUIANO, the result was not totally unexpected.

“I’ve changed arrows to a stiffer spine,” she explained. “And I’ve just been shooting really well lately.”

The Colombia girls trailed Russia by a point for the lead in team qualifying. Mexico came in third thanks to Stephanie SALINAS’ 691 and fifth-place finish.

That new-look States team – who were unbeaten from mid-2013 through two stages last year – will have to shoot a first round match against Thailand after collecting the sixth seed.

Read more about Shanghai 2015.