ISSF Reallocates Olympic Quota Spot to USA Shooting
OutdoorHub 04.05.12
The International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) has notified USA Shooting that it is reallocating an Olympic Quota Spot to USA Shooting after Jamie Gray’s (Lebanon, Pa.) double qualification in both Olympic air and smallbore (.22 caliber) rifle events.
USA Shooting’s double trap competitors are the beneficiaries of the reallocation thereby setting up greater intrigue for this year’s double trap competition at the upcoming 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shotgun, May 17-20.
ISSF rules stipulate that a member federation has the ability to request a reallocation of one quota position provided that the federation has a double starter in any one event. Gray, after securing a quota spot at the 2010 World Championships in Munich, Germany, earned a second start position in air rifle on February 26 at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Camp Perry, Ohio.
Upon approval by the ISSF for the reallocation of one quota position, USA Shooting’s Reallocation Committee consisting of the Bob Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer, the National Team coaches for all three event disciplines and an athlete representative met to determine what event discipline would receive the reallocation. This process was determined by selecting the event in which USAS medal-winning potential appears to be greatest and taking into account event history in the past quad and medal success in ISSF Championship events.
The U.S. has had recent success in men’s double trap with Staff Sergeant Josh Richmond (USAMU/Hillsgrove, Pa.) securing an 2012 Olympic berth by winning the 2010 World Championships, winning medals at two World Cup events in 2011 and most recently earning bronze at the Tucson World Cup. Sergeant Glenn Eller (USAMU/Katy, Texas) is the reigning Olympic gold medalist, but before the ISSF decision and Gray’s performance, the 2011 World Championships bronze medalist was still on the outside looking in along with the rest of USA Shooting’s double trap team members. Also in contention now for that second quota spot in men’s double trap are reigning Junior World champion Billy Crawford (Johnstown, Ohio), and 2008 Olympian Sergeant Jeff Holguin (USAMU/Yorba Linda, Calif.). With Richmond’s spot confirmed after his performance over the past two seasons, Eller holds a five-point advantage over his competitors with the Trials still to come in May.
“We’re grateful to the ISSF for the reallocation of a quota selection and we’re hopeful that we will take advantage of this opportunity to not only bolster our team but to improve our medal chances in London,” said Mitchell. “The performance of Jamie Gray and her rise as a two-event rifle shooter has paid dividends for our entire organization and the men’s double trap team, given the depth and success they’ve showcased this quad, will reap the rewards.”
