Crawford Takes Men’s Double Trap and Olympians Hancock and Thompson Remain on Top in Men’s Skeet

Reigning National Champion Billy Crawford(Johnstown, Ohio) once again ended on top of the podium with the highest score in Men’s Double Trap. Crawford shot 331/350 targets in USA Shooting’s Fall Selection match from the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center in Kerrville, Texas.

At just 19 years old, Crawford’s résumé is growing after finishing third overall at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shotgun and then the National Championship title in July. This win will enable Crawford to further develop his shooting career overseas as he will compete in International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cups in 2013.

The silver medalist was Private First Class Derek Haldeman (Sunbury, Ohio) of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. Haldeman shot 328 targets overall. The bronze medalist was Ian Rupert (Muncy, Pa.) at 361 targets. Rupert came back in the final with 48/50 to overtake Kelcey Depatis (Donovan, Ill.) who finished fourth with 314 targets. The National Junior Team’s Christian Wilkoski (Centerburg, Ohio) and National Junior Olympic Shotgun Team’s Christopher Webster (Bainbridge, Ga.) finished fifth and sixth.

In Men’s Skeet, 2012 Olympic gold medalist Vincent Hancock (Eatonton, Ga.) gained ground on the competition with a perfect 100 targets today. Hancock is at 198 targets followed by Olympic teammate Frank Thompson (Alliance, Neb.) and Mexico’s Carlos Valdez both tied at 195. “I’m moving the gun great,” said Thompson. “I had a few issues today, but fought through and kept after it. I can’t wait for the wind in the morning-bring it on!”

U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) Resident Athlete BJ Blanchard (Vidor, Texas) fought back with 99/100 in today’s competition to finish fourth at 194 targets. TJ Bayer (College Station, Texas) and Jon Michael McGrath (Tulsa, Okla.) round out the top six at 192 and 191 targets respectively.

Haley Dunn (Saint Jo, Texas) kept a tight hold on first place in Women’s Skeet dropping just four targets to finish with 194 after two days of competition. Fellow USOTC Resident Athlete Caitlin Connor (Winnfield, La.) is in second with 191 targets and National Teammate Jaiden Grinnell (Port Angeles, Wash.) is right behind her at 190. Brandy Drozd (Bryan, Texas) is keeping chase with 188 targets. One target separates Morgan Craft (Hughesville, Pa.) and Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) at 186 and 185.

The skeet competitions end tomorrow with 50 targets and a final.

For complete results and rankings, please visit iclays.com.

2012 USA Shooting Fall Selection Match SCHEDULE

Sunday, October 7               M/W Skeet (50 skeet targets + final)

Friday, October 12              M/W Trap (100 targets)

Saturday, October 13          M/W Trap (100 targets)

Sunday, October 14            M/W Trap (50 targets + final)

For complete results, go to www.usashooting.org or check out Facebook or Twitter.

Hill Country Shooting Sports Center, Inc.

The Hill Country Shooting Sports Center, Inc., is an official United States Olympic Training Site, and includes opportunities for athletes to participate in Olympic and Paralympic shooting programs. Conveniently located on 140 acres just outside of Kerrville in Central Texas, this facility currently provides a training and competition venue for National shotgun teams and U.S. Olympic Hopefuls. Venues for training U.S. Olympic Hopefuls for Rifle and Pistol are currently being added.  The Center offers International Trap (Bunker) ; International Skeet, American Singles & Doubles Trap, American Skeet, NSCA & charity Sporting Clay tournaments; practice 5 Stand, & a 100 yard Rifle & 25 yard Pistol Public Range.