Ruiz and Grande take top seeds at 500-point Indoor World Series event in Merida
Pan American Indoor Champion Angela Ruiz made full use of home advantage to top qualification by just one point in the recurve women’s individual category at the penultimate Indoor World Series event in Merida (Mexico).
Ruiz, the 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 the 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 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 qualification.
World number three Matias Grande lived up to his billing, claiming the top seed in the recurve men’s qualification. The Pan American Indoor Champion shot 594, with 54 of his 60 arrows landing in the 10-ring.
Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist in the men’s team event Jean-Charles Valladont was three points behind on 591 and will be aiming for his first title of the Indoor World Series season, having previously taken silver at the Taipei Open.
There was a surprise result in the compound women’s qualification, with Berlin 2023 World Archery Champion in the mixed team event Alexis Ruiz claiming the top seed ahead of world number one Andrea Becerra.
Meanwhile, Rio Indoor 250 finalists Ajay Scott and Mathias Fullerton shot a near-perfect 599, with 59 of their 60 arrows landing in the 10-ring, to secure the first and second seeds in compound men at Merida.
World number two and Taipei winner Mike Schloesser was seeded fourth on 597.
Merida, a new stop on the Indoor World Series calendar, is the only 500-point event in the series before Vegas and is being contested under the new competition format.
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
