KERRVILLE, Texas (March 15, 2008) – Glenn Eller (Katy, Texas) and Jeff Holguin (Yorba Linda, Calif.) were selected to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in Double Trap today, while Vincent Hancock (Eatonton, Ga.) jumped into the lead for Men’s Skeet and Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) remains in first place for Women’s Skeet.
U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) shooter Eller finished the competition in first place today with a total score of 615 targets, earning a spot on his third consecutive U.S. Olympic team in Double Trap. Eller’s USAMU teammate and 2007 Pan American Games silver medalist Holguin shot a perfect score of 50 targets in the final to earn his first berth to the U.S. Olympic team. Holguin finished with a total score of 612 targets.
“I expected to make it, so when you see it over and over again in your mind, it really helps,” said Holguin. “I felt really confident coming into this match in the position I was in.”
Fellow USAMU members Josh Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.), the 2007 Pan American Games Champion, and 2000 Olympian Bill Keever (Rutherfordton, N.C.), finished in third and fourth place respectively with 606 and 596 targets. Jared Fodor (Centerburg, Ohio) finished in fifth place with 570 targets, while Bryce Gearhart (Freeburg, Pa.) finished in the sixth spot with 564 targets.
In Men’s Skeet, USAMU member Hancock, the 2007 World Cup Italy Champion/world record holder and 2007 Pan American Games gold medalist, jumped into the number one spot today with a total score of 437 targets. USAMU member Mark Weeks (Clinton Township, Mich.) moved up into second place with 432 targets, while Sean McLelland (Mission, Texas) is in third place with 430 targets. Clay Hart (Athens, Ga.) is holding fourth place with 424 targets. Frank Thompson (Alliance, Neb.), four-time Olympian and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Todd Graves (Laurel, Miss.), a member of the USAMU, along with Jon Michael McGrath (Tulsa, Okla.) are tied for fifth place with 423 targets.
In Women’s Skeet, three-time Olympic medalist (1996 and 2004 gold medalist, 2000 bronze medalist) Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.), continues to hold the lead with a total score of 427 targets. Pan American Games gold medalist Haley Dunn (Eddyville, Iowa) maintains her second place position with a total score of 424 targets. Two-time Olympian Connie Smotek (Bryan, Texas) remains in third place with 421 targets. Brandie Neal (Spencer, Ind.) and 2007 Junior World Clay Target Champion Emily Blount (Tucson, Ariz.) are tied for fourth place at 402 targets, while Ali Chiang (Redwood City, Calif.) and Shari Legate (Peyton, Colo.) are tied for fifth place with 394 targets.
The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shooting (Shotgun) conclude tomorrow with the selection of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team members for Men’s and Women’s Skeet, following the Skeet finals. There are two U.S. Olympic team spots available in Men’s Skeet and one spot in Women’s Skeet.
The Trap portion of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shooting (Shotgun) concluded on March 12 with three-time Olympian Bret Erickson (Bennington, Neb./Muenster, Texas) and Dominic Grazioli (Myrtle Beach, S.C./San Antonio, Texas), along with (Corey Cogdell (Eagle River, Alaska) being selected to the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in Men’s and Women’s Trap.
Top shotgun shooters from around the United States are vying for spots on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Shooting (Shotgun) March 8-16, which is being held at the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center in Kerrville, Texas. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Shooting is a collaborative partnership between the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and USA Shooting.
Shotgun athletes are being selected to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team based on the aggregate score from both the Fall Selection competition, which was held last August and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Shooting (Shotgun). The USOC has final approval of all U.S. Olympic Team members.
