The Outdoor Wire

Trap Titles Awarded at USA Shooting National Championships for Shotgun

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado –The first medals of the USA Shooting National Championships for Shotgun were presented today in the Trap discipline at the International Shooting Park located just south of Fort Carson, Colorado.

In addition to National Champion titles, National and National Junior Team appointments were at stake; as well as prize money for the top overall finishers in each discipline, courtesy of our longtime team sponsor White Flyer.

Winning the Men’s Trap title was Caleb Lindsey (Spring Hill, Tennessee). Lindsey won silver at last year’s National Championship and promoted that medal to gold today with his nail-biter 44-43 win over silver medalist Roe Reynolds (Quitman, Arkansas).

"That result showed me what I was made of, that I could compete at this level,” Lindsey said. “I knew if I focused harder, with more quality practice versus quantity training, I could take that next step." Lindsey also won bronze in the Junior division at the 2016 National Championships.

Winning bronze was Brian Burrows (Fallbrook, California) who had stepped away from international-style competition in the summer of 2016, but has proven he’s ready to make a return to the international stage with this bronze medal win today and his silver-medal finish earlier this year at the Summer Selection Match in Kerrville, Texas.

Aeriel Skinner won her first Women’s Trap title today with 44 targets in the Final as well over silver medalist Emma Williams (Savannah, Tennessee). Three-time defending National Champion Ashley Carroll (Solvang, California) won the bronze medal.

“It started off rough and I struggled,” said Skinner, who posted a score of 110 in her first 125 targets. “I didn’t even feel like the same person through the first 125. I talked to [1996 Olympic bronze medalist Lance Bade] about my pre-shot routine and mental game before the second half and did much better – couldn’t have done much worse!” Athletes in the men’s and women’s events shot 250 targets over the four days of competitions, as well as today’s Final of 50 targets. “For some reason I couldn’t hit my first targets, then [Carroll] gave me a stern talking to and it was getting better. Even with the changing light and wind conditions, I kept my eyes and my pre-shot routine the same, stayed focused, and it just worked out.”

Skinner also won bronze in the Junior division at the 2014 National Championships.

On the Junior Men’s side, Dale Royer (Jackson, Montana) won his championship title by equaling the Junior Finals World Record of 48 targets. Reynolds also claimed silver in the Junior competition, and the bronze medal went to 2018 Junior Men’s Trap World Championship silver medalist Logan Lucas (Pacific, Missouri).

Victoria Hendrix (Glendale, Arizona) won the Junior Women’s Trap title in her Finals debut and shot a personal record in her first 125 targets of the match.

“I shot off for the number one bib and then this!” said Hendrix of her win. “I’ve only really been intentionally shooting this for eight months. Next time I just need to keep doing as well!” The silver medal went to Ryann Phillips (Gail, Texas) and bronze went to Heather Broski (Spring Hill, Tennessee).

On Tuesday afternoon, the Senior Men and International Finals were also contested. Winning gold for the Seniors was Steve Loschen (Wilcox, Nebraska). Winning silver wasDavid Senter (Saint Helens, Oregon) and winning bronze was Tommy Browning(Wooster, Arkansas).

In the International Final, Jean Pierre Brol Cardenas of Guatemala won gold, Matthew Van Haaren of Canada won silver and Herbert Danillo Brol Cardenas of Guatemala won the bronze.

Final results of the Trap competition at the National Championships:http://www.usashooting.org/library/Competitions/0_2018/18_SG_

Nationals/Trap/Final_Trap_Results_.pdf.

View and download photos from today’s action at the USA Shooting National Championships: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmtbRc3m.

This match will also serve as the selection match for Trap Mixed Teams that will represent the United States at the Championship of the Americas (CAT Games) in November, as well as the ISSF World Cups in Acapulco, Mexico and Al Ain, United Arab Emirates next year.

The Trap Mixed Team event will throw 150 targets plus Finals each day tomorrow and Friday. The National Championships wrap with the Skeet competition, with athletes seeing 250 targets over four days plus Finals on October 10. Complete schedule of events: http://www.usashooting.org/library/Competitions/0_2018/18_SG_Nationals

/Schedule/2018_SG_Nationals_Schedule.pdf.

Directions and map to the International Shooting Park: https://www.usashooting.org/library/Competitions/Ft.20Carson20SG20Range.pdf.

All events are free to spectators and open to the public.

About USA Shooting: USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting's mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

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