Qualifying at the Yankton 2026 World Archery Field Championships was completed on Thursday, but heavy rain forced organisers to shorten two of the marked courses for safety reasons.
Barebow competitors were limited to just six targets on the marked course, while three targets – 18, 19 and 20 – were removed from the compound course after some groups had already shot them.
The biggest challenge for many competitors was moving around the hilly, muddy slopes. As defending compound champion Paige Pearce put it, “we skied more than we walked.”
The barebow course had been seen by some competitors as less technical than at previous editions.
“Having shot four years ago I was expecting a much more difficult course on the first day, so it was a big surprise to us to have such a nicely made but flat course,” said David Jackson, who finished third in the barebow men’s qualification behind Italians Matteo Uggeri and Simone Barbieri.
“All the targets were pretty long and there was not much challenge regarding the terrain, so you just have to shoot good,” he added.
The USA’s Erin Hollom, who qualified fourth in the barebow women’s field, also felt the course provided a good test despite the conditions.
“Shooting was chilly and damp. I think the course was set up very well and because of that I think it was a true test of ability rather than just equipment,” she said.
Italy’s Eleonora Strobbe headed the barebow women’s field ahead of teammate Cinzia Noziglia. Australia’s Nicky Fairweather posted the highest score of the shortened marked round, 82, to qualify fifth overall.
In compound, three targets were removed for safety reasons after some groups had already shot them. The field was therefore ranked using the remaining 21 marked targets together with Wednesday’s unmarked round.
Mike Schloesser, the reigning World Games Champion, topped the compound men’s field with 779, one point ahead of Austria’s Nico Wiener. Both are former world field champions.
“I felt like the courses were challenging but also what made it more challenging were how tricky the conditions were walking,” said Schloesser. “Shooting was nice, it was a nice level. The courses were just like very muddy.”
“I’m a big marked guy. I don’t do field archery normally, I do maybe one or two a year, mostly once a year. So for me, unmarked day is really challenging, I don’t really do it that often. Marked day is in my wheelhouse. I’m really satisfied with how today went,” he added.
In the compound women’s field, host nation archer Paige Pearce led Amanda Mlinaric and Ella Gibson. The three athletes made up the podium at the Lac La Biche 2024 World Archery Field Championships, in the same order.
In recurve, Germany’s Florian Unruh finished ahead of defending champion Brady Ellison on countback after both archers finished on 732. Unruh won the event here in 2022.
Defending champion Roberta Di Francesco maintained her position at the top of the recurve women’s field, 12 points ahead of teammate Chiara Rebagliati.
The competition continues with individual and mixed team eliminations on Friday. The weekend’s finals will be available to watch on archery+.
Top qualifiers: 2026 World Field
After the marked and unmarked rounds.Full results available on the event page.
- Recurve men: Florian Unruh, Germany – 732
- Recurve women: Roberta Di Francesco, Italy – 710
- Compound men: Mike Schloesser, Netherlands – 779
- Compound women: Paige Pearce, USA – 752
- Barebow men: Simone Barbieri, Italy – 446
- Barebow women: Eleonora Strobbe, Italy – 417
