Matthew Emmons and Michael McPhail both had good rounds in the qualifying for the 50m prone rifle. Emmons was just slightly better. He scored a 625.9 to qualify in fifth and while McPhail was just 1.3 points back that was too much as McPhail finished in a tie for eighth and lost the tiebreaker to miss out on the final. McPhail should have been in the final but a 102.9 on the final series, opened the door and he was passed. In the final Emmons got off to a great start with the third best opening stage score. After two more rounds of shooting the scores were tight with second through sixth all within the range of 103.3 to 103.9. That meant the margin for error was tiny and when Emmons scored a 20.1 it wasn’t enough as he was eliminated by a tenth of a point to the shooter who would go to take the bronze.
Over in the women’s 50m rifle 3 position Virginia Thrasher continued to show that incredible form that may make her a medal contender in Rio out of nowhere. Thrasher had the second best score in the eliminator round and along with Sarah Scherer and Sarah Beard all easily advanced to the qualifying round. Is it possible the US could have three finalists in this event? You wouldn’t rule it out. The qualification and finals will be on Friday.
Also on Friday the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol will begin with two Americans, Emil Milev and Keith Sanderson, competing. Both are 2016 Olympians and Sanderson was 13th in Bangkok while Milev is appearing in his first world cup event of the year. Stage one of qualifying is on Friday with the rest of the competition on Saturday.
Men’s skeet begins Friday with the first day of qualifying as Vincent Hancock, Hayden Stewart, and Frank Thompson compete for the US. Hancock is already qualified for the Olympics in this event and placed fourth in the opening World Cup event in Nicosia.
The first day of qualifying will also take place for women’s skeet with Amber English, Morgan Craft, and Kimberly Rhode competing for the US. Craft will be in the Olympics and won the opening event in Nicosia while Rhode was sixth in that competition.
Previous ISSF World Cup Coverage:
Day 5 Update
Day 6 Update
