2003 PISTOL FALL SELECTION MATCH
FORT BENNING, Ga. – The last event of the first Olympic Pistol Team Trials came down to an exciting finale as the Men’s Rapid Fire Pistol discipline rounded out the week of competition at Fort Benning’s ranges.
Monday’s finals saw veteran shooter, five-time Olympian John McNally lose to 26-year-old John Bickar in an exciting turn of events where Bickar (Canton, Ohio) stole the show with a final score of 102.1 compared to McNally’s 95.3. Bickar battled back from a three point deficit to walk away the champion.
However, as this is only the first of two matches held to select the team for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, the finals will not be used to determine much of anything except for cash awards. The two-day match totals will be used instead, as the team picks up one more national team member and then carries over the scores to be added to the athlete’s spring selection scores, held in late April.
So with that in mind, McNally (Heath, Texas) stays on top with a two-day total of 1,166 points. Bickar falls in place with 1,163 for second, while Carl Trompeter grabs third with and without the finals added. Trompeter (Lebanon, Pa.) put up a 1,147 two-day total and a 1,241.2 combined score.
For more information and a complete list of competitors and results, log on to www.usashooting.org.
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