COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (July 21, 2018)
USA Shooting’s 2018 Progressive-Position Pistol (PPP) National Championships have concluded after two days of intense competition during the dual-venue match July 19-21 in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Anniston, Alabama.
The Colorado Springs Olympic Shooting Center and the Civilian Marksmanship Program Air Rifle Range in Anniston, Alabama hosted the PPP National Championships for the second year in a row. The two-site system was put in place in 2013 in hopes of helping drive registration numbers and making event travel more attainable for kids and families participating. With matches running concurrently, the athletes at both venues can also compete with athletes from across the country for PPP supremacy.
The winners of the Men’s and Women’s International Standing overall titles are from Colorado Springs – Hunter Battig and Rebecca Platt. Prior to today’s Final, each of them had such a lead on the competition that the additional points earned based on Finals finish were rendered inconsequential, though they also both won their respective Finals.
On the women’s side, silver medalist Carrie Haltiwanger (Little Mountain, South Carolina) bronze medalist Caroline Trombley (Lexington, Massachusetts) won their medals in Alabama and were also medalists at last year’s PPP National Championships.
Both men’s silver and bronze medalists also came from the Alabama competition. Sam Zeigler (Palmyra, Pennsylvania) won the silver medal and Jacob Turner (Omega, Georgia) won the bronze.
Battig and Platt, along with Alissa Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colorado) were the top overall team of October 9 in International Standing (pictured). The team of One Shot Wonders of Turner, Cory Frazier (Tifton, Georgia) and Johnna Dales (Tifton, Georgia) won silver and the team of Palmyra of Zeigler, Andrew Sturrup (Palmyra, Pennsylvania) and Maggi Shifflet (Palmyra, Pennsylvania) won bronze.
A first in PPP history occurred today when Valerie Nothnagle (Hummelstown, Pennsylvania) shot a perfect Qualification score of 400 in the Basic Supported category. She also went on to win the gold in this event.
The combined PPP National Championships featured 74 participants from 11 states.
Complete Results from 2018 PPP National Championships
Photos
The PPP program, which began in 2008, creates an opportunity for youth to begin shooting pistol at an earlier age, with no minimum age requirement. PPP is designed to progressively develop junior pistol athletes through the three categories as defined by the shooting position used by the competitor. They include basic supported; standing supported and international (one-handed) standing. PPP gives the junior athlete the opportunity to focus on and learn the foundational pistol skills with the opportunity to participate in competitions. This progression develops confidence, skills and knowledge at an early age.
USA Shooting would like to thank everyone who made the 2018 PPP National Championships a success, including both match sites as well as their staff, range officers, volunteers and parents who made both matches possible.