Local teen Ruiz grabs pole in 500-point Indoor World series at Merida
Pan American Indoor Champion Angela Ruiz made full use of home advantage as she topped qualification by just one point in the recurve women individual category at the penultimate event of the Indoor World Series at Merida.
Ruiz, silver medallist at the Nimes Tournament, shot an impressive 590, with 52 of her 60 arrows landing in the 10-ring. USA’s Catalina GNoriega followed closely on 589, registering 49 arrows in the 10.
Should Ruiz go on to claim victory on home soil, it would consolidate her position in second place in the overall standings.
Competing in her debut Indoor World Series season, the Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist in women’s team event has grown in confidence with each stage. Despite not being among the pre-event favourites, the 19-year-old from Saltillo in Mexico claimed silver behind Victoria Sebastian in Nimes, underlining her rising consistency on the indoor circuit.
Sebastian, chasing a third title of the season following victories at the Taipei Archery Open and in Nimes last month, finished fifth in the qualification.
World number three Matias Grande lived up to his billing, claiming the top seed in recurve men qualification. The Pan American Indoor Champion shot 594 with 54 of his 60 arrows landing in 10-ring.
Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist in men’s team event, Jean-Charles Valladont was three points behind on 591 and would be aiming for his first title in the Indoor World Series calendar following his silver medal at Taipei Open.
There was surprise result in the compound women qualification with Berlin 2023 World Champion in mixed team, Alexis Ruiz, claiming the top seed ahead of world number one Andrea Becerra.
Meanwhile, Rio Indoor 250 finalists Ajay Scott and Mathias Fullerton, the world number one, shot a near-perfect 599, with 59 of their 60 arrows landing on 10-ring, as they secured the first and second seedings at Merida.
World number two and Taipei Archery Open winner Mike Schloesser was seeded fourth on 597.
Merida, a new stop on the Indoor World Series calendar, is the only 500-point tournament in the series before Vegas and is being played under the new competition format.
The fate of the medal finals, which will be broadcast live on archery+ on Sunday, will be decided in Merida.
Top seeds: Merida Indoor World Series 500
• Recurve men: Matias Grande, Mexico – 594
• Recurve women: Angela Ruiz, Mexico – 590
• Compound men: Ajay Scott, Great Britain – 599
• Compound women: Alexis Ruiz, USA – 595
