Admittedly it feels a little unfair that Dania Vizzi and Dustan Taylor led the competition after every day of qualifying, and both qualified for the gold medal finals with the top score but still go home without golds. But the rules of the competition are such that after 266 targets are used to determine the final two, it all comes down to one last round of 16 for the national title. Phillip Jungman and Sydney Carson were the spoilers as both posted perfect gold medal rounds to grab the national titles. How they got there is interesting for sure. Jungman was part of a three man group six behind the top two going into the final day. Hungman did his part with a perfect 50 and Taylor and Zachary McBee let the pack catch up with a 46 and a 45 respectively. Jungman still trailed McBee by a point for the final spot in the gold medal match but after a 15 in the final and a 13 from McBee it became Jungman and not McBee who would challenge Taylor. Once into the final Jungman seized the moment and his perfect 16 delivered an unlikely national title with a 16-14 win. McBee ended up in the bronze medal match but lost it to finish fourth. Hayden Stewart had entered the day in third but finished seventh after losing a shoot-off for a spot in the final.

On the women’s side there was a little less drama as Carson has been second going into the final day but Samantha Simonton drew even with her going into the final. Carson posted a 15, Simonton a 12, to ensure Carson would be the one challenging Vizzi in the final. Once there, just like Jungman, Carson left no down who would win the national title clearly defeating Vizzi 16-12. Simonton’s 12 in the final dropped her into a tie for fourth which she lost in a shoot-off so it was defending champion Caitlin Connor faced off with defending silver medalist Amber English in the bronze medal match. Both posted 13 scores so it went to a shoot-off which Connor won 2-1, defeating English in a final match for the second straight year.

With the national championships over in shotgun as well as rifle and pistol the attention is fully on Rio where the shotgun athletes will compete from August 7th through the 13th.

Previous 2016 USA Shooting Shotgun National Championships Coverage:
Preview
Monday Update
Tuesday Update
Wednesday Update
Thursday Update
Saturday Update
Sunday Update
Monday Update

For the third straight day the defending bronze medalists in the men’s and women’s skeet events continue to sit in position to capture the national title this year. In women’s skeet Dania Vizzi shot another perfect round and a 72 for the day as she added to her lead, now five over Sydney Carson. Samantha Simonton is now alone in third after she pulled one point in front of defending silver medalist Amber English. Defending champion Caitlin Connor is still in contention just two points behind English.

In men’s skeet Dustan Taylor continues to lead but a 72 opened the door and Zachary McBee had two perfect rounds to pull even with him. Third place belongs to Hayden Stewart who shot a 74 with two perfect rounds to move within four of the leaders having entered the day in seventh. It’s a big mess after that with seven more within a two shot range competing for spots in the final including yesterday’s third place group of Phillip Jungman and Mark Staffen at 190, Taz Gloria at 189, and Aaron Wilson at 188.

The skeet competitions will have two rounds on Tuesday before the final.

Previous 2016 USA Shooting Shotgun National Championships Coverage:
Preview
Monday Update
Tuesday Update
Wednesday Update
Thursday Update
Saturday Update
Sunday Update

Jeffrey Holguin was dominant again on the second day of the double trap competition to take home the national championship. Everyone was a bit lower in the second half of qualifying but he held a four point lead going into the final where he really showed off. A perfect 30 put him into the final against defending national champion Derek Haldeman and another perfect 30 there gave him the national title by one point over Haldeman. 2016 Olympian Glenn Eller was third going into the final and defeated Jesse Haynes-Lewis in the bronze medal final 29-25. Last year’s bronze medalist, Dale Royer, wound up seventh.

In the battle of last year’s three medalists in women’s skeet the defending bronze medalist, Dania Vizzi, continues to lead after a strong 48 on the second day. Her margin is now three points over Sydney Carson, who posted a day best 49, while defending champion Caitlin Connor fell off the pace a bit with a 44 and is six back in a tie for fifth. Defending silver medalist Amber English is tied for third with Samantha Simonton and five behind Vizzi. Katharina Jacob had been third but a 45 has her tied with Connor.

In men’s skeet last year’s bronze medalist Dustan Taylor also continues to lead after a perfect day gave him a 124 out a possible 125 to start things. Zachary McBee was two back going in and maintained that gap after a perfect day of his own. Colton Evans, Hayden Stewart, and Edwin Halliday III all were one back after the first day but shot 45’s and are tied for seventh, six back. Taz Gloria, Phillip Jungman, Mark Staffen, and Aaron Wilson are tied for third five behind the leader.

The skeet competitions will have three rounds on Monday, and two on Tuesday before a final on Tuesday as well.

Previous 2016 USA Shooting Shotgun National Championships Coverage:
Preview
Monday Update
Tuesday Update
Wednesday Update
Thursday Update
Saturday Update