U.S. Rifle Team Sets an Example at First World Cup
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 7:17 am
For Immediate Release
March 3, 2004
BANGKOK, Thailand - The U.S. Rifle Team made a strong showing at its first World Cup of the season, held Feb. 19-27, in Bangkok, Thailand. Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.) didn't waste anytime getting on board, qualifying with a 596 and then hitting a 103.6 in the finals for a silver medal finish in the men's air rifle event.
"Matt has been working very hard for these matches, and in particular for air rifle," National Rifle Coach Dave Johnson said. "He's on track with his goals this year and I think that his best is still ahead."
Ryan Tanoe (Honolulu, Hawaii) also qualified with a 596. He continued to step it up, shooting a score of 102.5 in the final match. Tanoe was just edged off the medal stand, finishing in fourth with a 698.5. China's Qinan Zhu won the event, finishing with a total score of 701.6
Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) overcame a stomach problem that hampered her air rifle performance just two days earlier to qualify in the women's 50m 3-position event with a score of 577. In what appeared to be a repeat of the Zagreb 2003 finals, Beyerle made her move, hitting an impressive 101.5 and bridging the three-point gap to take the bronze with a 678.5.
"She is a tremendous competitor," Johnson said. "She has demonstrated that when she gets in the final, no competitor's lead is safe."
Two competitor's leads that did stay safe were China's Hong Shan, who took this event with a 682.3 and Russia's Lioubov Galkina, who finished in second with a 681.9.
Emmons was back at it again a few days later, hitting a 593 to qualify for the finals in men's 50m rifle prone. But with a final score of 102.6, he could only finish as high as sixth. Instead, Belarus dominated the event, putting two of their shooters at the top of the medal stand. Petr Litvinchuk finished three points above everyone else by hitting a 104.4 final. His teammate Yury Shcherbatsevich came in second with a total score of 696.5.
The U.S. just couldn't get a hold of the women's air event. Emily Caruso (Fairfield, Conn.) hit a 394 in the qualifiers, but was still three points away from making the finals. Russia's Lioubov Galkina hit a perfect 400 in the qualifying rounds and went on to hit a 104.3 in the finals for a well-deserved first-place finish.
Bangkok's World Cup included running target and pistol competitions as well. However, no U.S. shooters qualified for the finals in either discipline.
For more information or for full results from Bangkok, log onto www.thaishooting.com.
Sara J. Greenlee
Director of Media Relations
USA Shooting
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
719.866.4896
cell. 719.310.2606
fax. 719.635.7989
March 3, 2004
BANGKOK, Thailand - The U.S. Rifle Team made a strong showing at its first World Cup of the season, held Feb. 19-27, in Bangkok, Thailand. Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.) didn't waste anytime getting on board, qualifying with a 596 and then hitting a 103.6 in the finals for a silver medal finish in the men's air rifle event.
"Matt has been working very hard for these matches, and in particular for air rifle," National Rifle Coach Dave Johnson said. "He's on track with his goals this year and I think that his best is still ahead."
Ryan Tanoe (Honolulu, Hawaii) also qualified with a 596. He continued to step it up, shooting a score of 102.5 in the final match. Tanoe was just edged off the medal stand, finishing in fourth with a 698.5. China's Qinan Zhu won the event, finishing with a total score of 701.6
Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) overcame a stomach problem that hampered her air rifle performance just two days earlier to qualify in the women's 50m 3-position event with a score of 577. In what appeared to be a repeat of the Zagreb 2003 finals, Beyerle made her move, hitting an impressive 101.5 and bridging the three-point gap to take the bronze with a 678.5.
"She is a tremendous competitor," Johnson said. "She has demonstrated that when she gets in the final, no competitor's lead is safe."
Two competitor's leads that did stay safe were China's Hong Shan, who took this event with a 682.3 and Russia's Lioubov Galkina, who finished in second with a 681.9.
Emmons was back at it again a few days later, hitting a 593 to qualify for the finals in men's 50m rifle prone. But with a final score of 102.6, he could only finish as high as sixth. Instead, Belarus dominated the event, putting two of their shooters at the top of the medal stand. Petr Litvinchuk finished three points above everyone else by hitting a 104.4 final. His teammate Yury Shcherbatsevich came in second with a total score of 696.5.
The U.S. just couldn't get a hold of the women's air event. Emily Caruso (Fairfield, Conn.) hit a 394 in the qualifiers, but was still three points away from making the finals. Russia's Lioubov Galkina hit a perfect 400 in the qualifying rounds and went on to hit a 104.3 in the finals for a well-deserved first-place finish.
Bangkok's World Cup included running target and pistol competitions as well. However, no U.S. shooters qualified for the finals in either discipline.
For more information or for full results from Bangkok, log onto www.thaishooting.com.
Sara J. Greenlee
Director of Media Relations
USA Shooting
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
719.866.4896
cell. 719.310.2606
fax. 719.635.7989