Soldier wins gold medal at World Cup

[USAMU]

Soldier wins gold medal at World Cup

By Michael Molinaro
USAMU PAO

FORT BENNING, Ga - Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit kicked
off 2012 in grand fashion, showcasing the very best of Army Soldier
skills while helping Team USA defend its home turf in Tucson at the
first International Shooting Sports Federation Shotgun World Cup of the
year.
The intensity was raised a notch as the field full of 2012
Olympic qualifiers and hopefuls took the stage, looking to gain crucial
momentum heading into the World Cup season and London Olympic Games
later this summer.
Staff Sgt. Ryan Hadden stood tallest in the southwest, winning a
gold medal in Men's Trap. He shot a qualification score of 123 (out of
125) and followed that with a perfect final round, a dominating
performance in front of family and friends.
"Anytime you win a medal it's nice, but the object is to stand
on that podium, hear the National Anthem and see the American Flag get
raised," Hadden said. "That's what it's all about."
Motivation was not lacking for Hadden in Tucson. For the first
time in decades, the U.S. will not field a Men's Trap team at the
Olympics after failing to obtain the necessary quota slots in 2011. The
World Cup season is the Olympics for Hadden and his U.S. National Team
teammates in Men's Trap.
On top of that, Hadden had the support of his family in person,
a rarity at international competitions since they hardly ever compete in
the U.S. It could also be argued that his medal-winning performance
wasn't even the highlight of the day: less than an hour after receiving
his gold medal, Hadden watched his father get remarried.
"This was the first time my wife or my kids saw me compete in a
World Cup," Hadden said. "It was fun. The expectations were higher but I
like that. After everything was complete I left the range at 5:15,
rushed back to our rental house and my father got married at 6."
2012 Olympic Qualifier Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond started off his
pre-Olympic campaign on the podium, holding back a fellow Soldier and a
hungry field to earn the bronze medal in Men's Double Trap.
Richmond shot a qualifying round of 143 targets (out of 150),
putting himself into a sixth place tie with teammate Sgt. Glenn Eller.
After winning the shoot off, Richmond shot a perfect final round score
of 50 to climb from sixth to third, thus winning the bronze medal in his
first match of any kind since deploying to Afghanistan last year.
"This was a good test match for me, getting back on the gun
after such a long break," Richmond said. "I wanted to go over the
fundamentals-my routine, my mental preparation-and kind of do a
check-and balance of my game.
"After the qualification round and being in sixth, I went in there, had
no pressure on myself and kept battling through it. I basically said to
myself 'it's a 50 or nothing' and that's what I did. It went really well
for me and I like where I am at right now."
Next on the schedule is the London World Cup, where Rifle, Pistol and
Shotgun shooters will shoot on the grounds where Olympic dreams will
come true in just a few short months. Several USAMU Soldiers will
compete at the World Cup, including Hadden. Richmond will skip the event
as he and his wife wait for the pending birth of their second child.

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FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Staff Sgt. Ryan Hadden, U.S. Army Marksmanship
Unit, shoots down a target during the International Shooting Sports
Federation Shotgun World Cup USA in Tucson. Hadden won the gold medal in
Men's Trap in front of family and friends, kicking off the competitive
shooting season and showcasing the very best of Army Soldier skills.
(Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Heermann)

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Staff Sgt. Ryan Hadden, U.S. Army Marksmanship
Unit, acknowledges the applause after standing on the winners circle on
the podium at the Tucson Skeet and Trap Club. Hadden won the gold medal
in Men's Trap at the International Shooting Sports Federation Shotgun
World Cup USA.
(Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Heermann)