USA men win perfect shoot-off; compound teams take 2 golds

USA compound teams won men’s and women’s gold medals at the fourth and last stage of the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Berlin, Germany, the last major senior international before both take to the field for the World Archery Championships in Mexico City in October.

The men’s final with Denmark went down to a shoot-off after the two teams drew at 233 points after the regulation 24 arrows.

They then drew again, with perfect 30-point groups in the shoot-off – but the US had an arrow closer to the middle of the target, and was declared the victor.

“This is a good World Cup victory – but we beat them, they beat us and that will probably continue back and forward. The real prize for us is still in October in Mexico,” said Steve Anderson, referring to the Antalya final – where the Danes won.

“This is our first time shooting together as a team,” added Gellenthien. “I think we gained a lot of confidence today and it’s going to be a good step moving forward. I’m really excited for Mexico City.”

Anderson shot first in the US rotation, new team member Kris Schaff second and Gellenthien third.

Ranked second after qualification, the USA women’s squad of Paige Gore, Lexi Keller and Cassidy Cox faced an outperforming number nine team from Great Britain, who upset top-seeded Mexico in the eliminations, in the final.

Tied at 55 points after one end, the Brits put in an eight and a seven at the back of the second to fall behind.

Lucy O’Sullivan, Lucy Mason and Hope Greenwood managed to claw ground back over the back half of the match, but a perfect three 10s from the US trio put the match out of reach. It is both teams’ best finish of the season in the compound women’s team event.

“It was a really tough match. It put us to the challenge with the rain, the wind and how our equipment was, but I think we figured it out really quick and then worked together really well to keep up with the conditions when they were changing,” said Keller.

The three young US athletes, none of whom are older than 22 years of age, who were selected to represent the USA at the next World Archery Championships ahead of more experienced archers, have found quick form prior to the worlds.

Hosts Germany beat India to the compound men’s team bronze medal and Denmark took women’s bronze over South Africa.

The fourth stage of the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup runs 8 to 13 August in Berlin, Germany.