November/December 2010: Volume 18, Number 6 - USA Shooting

ISSF World CupFinalWinning aWorld Cupmedal is anhonor initself, but aninvitation to the World Cup Finals(WCF) is a proud accomplishmentfor any shooter. Organized bythe International Shooting SportFederation (ISSF), the World CupFinal has been held annually since1988. Though there are typicallyseparate World Cup Finals forshotgun and a combined rifle/pistol, the competitions are alwaysheld at the end of a given WorldCup series. According to theISSF’s qualification guidelines, aninvitation is extended to “the topeight shooters in each event withthe highest qualification values.”Moreover, each nation is only per-Rhode (far left, back row) completed this season with a silver medalat the World Cup Final.mitted two athletes perevent. Adding to thecompetition pool, wildcards are given to theTitle Defenders as well asthe three Olympic medalistsand World Champions(following thesemajor competitions) fora total of twelve athletesper event.This season’s ISSFShotgun World Cup Final was heldin Izmir, Turkey, and featured thefollowing eight American shooters:Kim Rhode, Sean McLelland, CoreyCogdell, Cpl. Jeffrey Holguin, StaffSgt. Joshua Richmond, John Mullins,Haley Dunn and Amber English.With fierce competition—the best ofthe best—Kim Rhode was the onlyAmerican to reach the podium. InWomen’s Skeet, Rhodeequaled the world recordof 74 out of 75 targets inqualification, but shot 21targets in the final to finishwith the silver medal.The ISSF Rifle/PistolWorld Cup Final was heldat the site of this year’sWorld Championship inMunich, Germany. TheRhode equaled the world record of 74 out of 75 targets in the Women’sSkeet qualification round.U.S. delegation included Sgt. 1stClass Daryl Szarenski, Amy Sowash,Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker,Sgt. Joseph Hein, Spc. Matt Rawlingsand Jamie Beyerle. With asolid performance of six appearancesin final competition andthree medals, the American rifleand pistol athletes provided excellentcompetition. Szarenskistarted off the red, white and bluesuccess in Men’s 50m Free Pistol.His total score of 662.5 points wonthe gold medal with an impressivefive-and-a-half point margin abovethe silver medalist. Wrapping uphis best season ever, Szarenski’svictory put a huge smile on hisface during an interview with theISSF.In Women’s 10m Air Rifle, Jamiewww.usashooting.org 2311:27 AMNov-Dec Issue 2010.indd 2311/8/10 9:22 PM