FORT BENNING, Georgia (June 16, 2018)
All eyes were on the Women’s Three-Position Rifle Final at the USA Shooting National Championships for Rifle and Pistol in Fort Benning, Georgia as three athletes were tied at the top with the same cumulative score over two days of Qualification, and another athlete was just one point away.
2016 Olympic gold medalist Ginny Thrasher (Springfield, Virginia), Sarah Beard (Danville, Indiana) and Elizabeth Marsh (Searcy, Arkansas, all three pictured) were all tied at the end of the two days of Qualification with a score of 2338, with each athlete putting up world-class scores over their two-competition. Morgan Phillips (Salisbury, Maryland) was just one point out of the lead with a score of 2337.
The medals of this event were narrowly decided on finish in today’s Final with Thrasher narrowly edging out Beard for the gold by one point. Marsh, who just celebrated her 20th birthday earlier this week, would take home the bronze medal.
Marsh also won silver in the Junior Women’s Three-Position Rifle competition. The gold went to Phillips also claimed gold this week in Junior Women’s Prone Rifle. Katie Zaun (Buffalo, North Dakota) won the Junior bronze medal.
On the line at the home of the U.S. Army Marksmanship in southwestern Georgia were National Championship titles, as well potential invitations to the National and National Junior Teams for medalists. Medals were awarded in these events based on the cumulative score from two days of Qualification matches, as well as additional points earned based on finish in the Final.
The Men’s Air Rifle competition also awarded medals today with Dempster Christenson (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) winning the gold by just .9 point over
