Yankton top eight: Cadet qualifiers

On an afternoon that hit heights of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the world’s very best young archers shot their ranking round in Yankton. Here’s who came out on top…

Recurve cadet men 

#1 seed: Marcus D’Almeida  

It was another tale of old bow, old results.

Two-time big-time silver medallist in 2014, at the Youth Olympics and the Archery World Cup Final in Lausanne, picked up his kit from last year after Antalya 2015 and a second bad finish in a row. 

The result: 680 out of 720 points and a top seed at the World Archery Youth Championships. 

#2 seed: Jan van Tongeren  

Marcus pipped Jan to the top spot in, literally, the last few arrows. Just a point behind, it’s a promising start for a young man that’s been tipped for a medal for quite some time but has not yet climbed the podium.

His previous results include a top-five at the Youth Olympics and fourth-place at the world indoors. 

Recurve cadet women 

#1 seed: Sim Hyeonseung  

A first-timer wearing the Korean cap, Hyeongseung is an unknown quantity.

An insider to team Korea let slip that the girls were a little nervous – but the coaches worked on their confidence and that, in Sim’s case, appeared to pay off. 

#2 seed: Hyeong Yeajin  

Thirteen points clear of Li Xinxin, from China, who arrived at 4am on the day of competition and still managed a solid third-seed finish in qualification, Yeajin also makes her international debut in Yankton. 

Compound cadet men 

#1 seed: Sebastian Arenas  

Coached by teammate and experienced junior archer Camilo Cardona, Colombia’s Sebas led compound cadet men’s qualification from beginning to end. 

Quite a performance – from another debutant, internationally. 

#2 seed: Viktor Orosz  

Hungarian Viktor is known in the international archery field – if only for one big win. In 2014, he took gold the 2014 World Archery Indoor Championships in the compound junior individual gold medal match against the dread(locked) Mario Vavro, 6-5.

He came second to Colombia’s Sebas Arenas by three points over the 72-arrow qualification round.

Compound cadet women 

#1 seed: Fatimah Almashhadani  

Iraq’s Fatimah won silver in the second stage of the 2014 Archery World Cup in Antalya. For Yankton qualifying, she managed a solid 680 out of 720 points. It was enough. 

“I’m trying to do something good for my country, to bring the joy,” said Fatimah, smiling. That happiness is not quite achieved yet – and she’s focused on the elimination matches, keeping her shooting strong and reaching the finals. 

#2 seed: Dahlia Crook 

Second-seeded Dahlia already knows who she will shoot against in the first elimination round: Canada’s Alana Tollenaar. 

Results are definitely a plus but, for Dahlia, it’s the chance to compete with Alan and other archers that makes shooting for the USA great. 

“I love competing. This has been so fun and it is great to meet the best cadets in the world,” said Dahlia.