COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-- The U.S. Shooting Team heads to the 2003 Pan American Games with its mind set on one thing--winning quota slots for the 2004 Olympic Games. And although USA Shooting still has a long road ahead before Athens, the outlook should be much brighter after its trip to Santo Domingo.
As one of the first sports scheduled to compete at this year's Games, many shooters have flown into the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center for a little extra training before all four disciplines--rifle, pistol, shotgun and running target-- take off July 27. Shooting events start Aug. 2 in the Dominican Republic and run through through Aug. 9.
--RIFLE--
The U.S. Rifle Team, coached by 1992 Olympian David Johnson, looks in great shape to clinch its remaining four slots. In order to do so, the U.S. will need to take the gold or silver in Men’s Prone, Men’s Air Rifle, Women’s 3-Position and Women’s Air Rifle, which is an accomplishable task considering the depth of talent in each of those disciplines.
Tom Tamas (Columbus, Ga.) and Ken Johnson (Phenix City, Ala.) will be shooting in Men’s Prone. Both are two-time Olympians and shoot for the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) in Fort Benning, Ga. In Men’s Air Rifle, two-time NCAA All-American Bradley Wheeldon (Eubank, Ky.) and USAMU Specialist Shane Barnhart (Phenix City, Ala.) will be gunning for the remaining slot. And by adding the new air rifle world-record holder, Jason Parker (Fortson, Ga.), and Olympian Eric Uptagrafft (Longmont, Colo.) to the Men’s 3-Position contest, the U.S. men’s rifle team looks extremely tough to beat.
On the women’s side, Sarah Blakeslee (Vancouver, Wash.) and Hattie Johnson (Buena Vista, Ga.) are shooting for the Women’s 3-Position slot. Mary Elsass (Phenix City, Ala.) and Olympian Melissa Mulloy (Colorado Springs, Colo.) are competing in the Air Rifle, making for a great all-around outlook.
--SHOTGUN--
The U.S. Men’s Shotgun Team is chalked full of tough shooters. Jeff Holguin (Colorado Springs) and William Keever (Phenix City, Ala.) look to secure the last remaining position for the U.S. men in double trap. Holguin and Keever finished second and third, respectively at the 2003 National Championships, held in mid-July and are the two to look to for this remaining spot. Shawn Dulohery (Columbus, Ga.) and Randall Sotowa (Arcadia, Calif.) are representing the U.S. in skeet, while Colorado Springs residents Lance Bade and Chris Kiernan look to be an extremely fierce duo in trap competitions. Bade is a two-time Olympian and 1996 bronze medalist.
Two-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) has already won a quota slot for the women in Double Trap. But with new-comer Brandie Neal (Colorado Springs, Colo.) still trying for one in skeet, and Whitely Loper still aiming for one in women’s trap, the only way they may lose out is if not enough countries compete. In order to win a quota, the competition needs to have at least five countries competing.
--PISTOL—
The Pistol Team definitely has its work cut out for it with eight Olympic quota slots left up for grabs. And although it’s entirely possible for the U.S. to walk away from Santo Domingo with seven, Coach Erich Buljung is determined not to focus on the competition.
"Not beating ourselves will be the hardest thing," the 1988 Olympic silver medalist said. "We can’t allow our shooters to fall into the hype. They have to focus on the purpose at hand. Their mindset should be on their performance, not anyone, or anything else. Let the other countries take care of their own business. If the U.S. athletes shoot up to their potential, we will be fine."
But does "fine" mean medaling in the men’s free pistol, air pistol, and rapid fire events? With a lineup of Daryl Szarenski (Seale, Ala.), Jason Turner (Colorado Springs, Colo.), John Bickar (Colorado Springs, Colo.), and John McNally (Heath, Texas) it just may. Szarenski, a 2000 Olympian, proved yet again he was one of the best shots in the country, clinching the 2003 National Championship Free Pistol gold, while also picking up a silver in the Air Pistol event. Szarenski, along with Turner, will be shooting both disciplines in Santo Domingo. McNally, a five-time Olympian, might be the most experienced Rapid Fire shooter on the continent. Throw in Bickar, another OTC resident, into the mix and the U.S. has a handful of medal hopefuls.
The Women’s Pistol Team is also packed full of talent with Janine Bowman (Dallas, Texas) Rebecca Snyder (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Sandra Uptagrafft (Longmont, Colo.) making the roster. Together these three women have tallied over 20 USA Shooting National Championship medals, 10 of which are golds. Bowman, the youngest of the three, is really turning it up this year and will compete in both the women’s Air and Sport Pistol disciplines. Snyder, a two-time Olympian, will add her expertise in the Air event, while Uptagrafft will compete in Sport Pistol. All three possess a really good chance of filling the desperately needed quota’s for the U.S.
--RUNNING TARGET—
Armando Ayala (Phenix City, Ala.) and Bill Johnson (Woodville, Miss.) make up the two-man team traveling to Santo Domingo in hopes of filling the one remaining running target quota for the U.S. Running Target coach Sergey Luzov led the duo in a pre-competition training session and is confident they have as good a chance as any to take the gold. However, with seasoned competitors from Columbia and Guatemala its anyone’s game.
For more information, or to request daily emails from the games, please contact Sara Greenlee at sara.greenlee@usashooting.org.
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