2016 Olympian Lucas Kozeniesky faced long odds entering the second day of the 10m air rifle event after ending the first day in seventh place and 4.3 points back. The first step in getting back in contention was a strong second day of qualifying and Kozeniesky was 3.8 points better and moved up to fourth and within a point of the leader thanks to others struggles. Day one leader Bryant Wallizer maintained the lead going into the final, though by only 0.6 points over second place Connor Davis and Ivan Roe (who had been in eighth after day one!). With these four separated by less than a point any of them could grab the title with a win in the final. Davis was the first one eliminated and Roe and Wallizer finished in fifth and fourth to leave only Kozeniesky in the running. Kozeniesky then had to fend off a challenge from fellow Olympian Daniel Lowe who had been fifth going into the final but was only two points behind Kozeniesky. Lowe went on to win the final and would have finished tied with Kozeniesky for first except Kozeniesky managed to finish second in the final to claim the national championship. Thomas Kyanko was second after day one but fell to fifth in the final standings after a third place finish in the final. Defending champion Dempster Christenson finished ninth after missing the final by 0.2 points.
The women’s 50m three position rifle event saw a nice duel between 2016 Olympians Virginia Thrasher and Sarah Scherer. Scherer was better on the second day of qualifying with a competition high 589. She was six points better than Trasher in that round to take a three point edge to the final. Trasher needed Scherer to stumble so despite winning the final she finished second as Scherer was runner-up in the final to grab the national title. Minden Miles wasn’t as sharp as the first day but held a seven point lead on fourth going into the final so she won bronze despite finishing last in the final. Last year’s runner-up, Erin McNeil, missed the final and finished 10th while while last year’s third place finisher, Amy Sowash, was fifth.
In the first day of the women’s 25m sport pistol event last year’s third place finisher Brenda Silva took a two point lead while posting a 570. Sarah Choe broke up last year’s top three with a 568 to move into second, one ahead of a three-way tie featuring 2016 Olympian and defending champion Enkelejda Shehaj, the runner-up from last year Sandra Uptagrafft, and Irina Andrianova.
The men’s 50m free pistol event is being led by Greg Markowski, already a two-time winner here in Ft. Benning. Markowski has a seven point lead over last year’s bronze medalist, Jason Turner, with James Hall and defending champion Nick Mowrer four points further back in third.
Things wrap up Wednesday with the second day of qualifying and the finals in both the pistol events.
Previous 2016 USA Shooting National Championships Coverage:
Preview
Thursday Update
Friday Update
Saturday Update
Sunday Update
Monday Update
