America’s Winning Streak Continues with Cogdell
OutdoorHub 04.01.12
Corey Cogdell (Eagle River, Alaska) fought her way from fifth to first to secure the first Women’s Trap gold medal of the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup season.
From the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club in Ariz., the 2008 Olympic Games bronze medalist displayed tenacity and fire as she earned a spot in the final via a five-person shoot-off. At 70 targets, Cogdell shot from the fifth position and overtook her opponents with a near perfect final-dropping just one target to finish with 94 total targets. Cogdell’s last World Cup medal came from the 2010 ISSF World Cup in Acapulco, and this win-especially the start of an Olympic year-was meaningful and set a standard for Cogdell.
 |
| Cogdell ejects a Winchester AA during the Women’s Trap final. |
“I’ve been training a lot and spending time in Tucson to prepare for this match,” said Cogdell. “It was a great start for the year-especially on American soil, and will propel my confidence headed into the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shotgun in May. I’d like to thank God for being with me through this whole match. It’s been great to have the support of Ron and Marlys Schauer, my dad and boyfriend Mitch. I’m looking forward to the London Prepares World Cup in April and qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team.”
Russia’s 41-year-old Elena Tkach, a practicing competitor since 1984, relied on her veteran ways to stay focused. Tkach, also a successful shoot-off entrant to the finals, shot 21 targets for the uncontested silver medal at 91 targets.Fatima Galvez of Spain and Jana Beckmann of Germany ended up with 90 targets to duel for the bronze. Galvez, the silver medalist of the 2011 ISSF World Cup Concepcion, dusted Beckmann, the bronze medalist of the 2010 European Championships, after two targets.
The USA’s Caitlin Barney Weinheimer (Kerrville, Texas) started strong with a pair of 23s, but had trouble in the final round with 21 targets. Weinheimer was 13th overall with 67 targets. Kelsey Zauhar (Lakeville, Minn.) also started with 23 targets, but dropped the four targets her second round for 21 targets. She finished strong with 22 targets for 66 total targets and 18th place.
Another notable accomplishment on the day is four-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.). Rhode, who won the Women’s Skeet gold and set a new qualification world record earlier this week, added another goal to her bucket list. Rhode shot a minimum qualifying score (MQS) in Women’s Trap today with 65 targets. This is especially significant because this MQS will allow Rhode to compete in Women’s Trap at the 2012 Olympic Games. Rhode, already nominated to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team in Women’s Skeet, looks to become the first woman in history to compete in all shotgun events in the Olympic Games.
“Skeet will always remain my main event,” said Rhode in an interview with the ISSF’s Marco Dalla Dea. “I decided to take the chance and shoot trap at the Olympic Games. I will mainly train for skeet, but I will dedicate some time to trap shooting before London.”
Men’s Trap
The ISSF World Cup Tucson concludes Saturday with competition in Men’s Trap. After two rounds, the American team is holding steady in medal contention. Staff Sergeant Ryan Hadden(USAMU/Pendleton, Ore.) dropped one clay on the day for 49/50 targets. Hadden, a multiple World Cup medalist and National Team member, looks to earn his first World Cup title this year. Teammate and fellow north westerner Jake Turner (Richland, Wash.) is also sitting pretty with 48 targets and has the podium in his sights. Dustin Anderson (Woodstock, Ga.) is just two targets behind with 46 clays after two rounds. The Men’s Trap final will be held at 2:30 p.m. PST.
