USA pair cruise to compound mixed team title at World Cup in Medellin

Matt Sullivan and Alexis Ruiz won the compound mixed team gold medal at the first stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Medellin, beating France 155-152 in the final.

“It got a little windy out there, a little surprising,” said Sullivan. “Shooting the team gave me a little edge, knowing what to expect out here, and just shot and trusted the process.”

The US pair opened with a perfect 40-point end and had a fast three-point advantage, which held until the halfway point.

A second perfect four arrows in the third end had them five points up, and well placed to defend a last-ditch comeback attempt from Pierre-Julien Deloche and Sophie Dodemont.

Two 10s, two nines brought Alexis and Matt’s total to 155 and both their first Hyundai Archery World Cup podium finishes.

“I am very happy with how this week went,” said Ruiz. “Today, all my shots just seemed to flow really well.”

The two US archers share the same coach in Mel Nichols and train together at points throughout the year, although not often practising for the mixed team competition.

Sophie Dodemont collects her third mixed team podium over the last two seasons with the silver, having won the event in Salt Lake City and Antalya in 2018.

Hosts Colombia produced a dominant performance in the bronze medal match.

Sara Lopez, who already won a gold medal in the compound women’s team competition and would later win the individual title in Medellin, and Jagdeep Singh Mejia shot a 156-point match. They beat the Netherlands by eight.

Competition at the first stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Medellin, Colombia runs until Sunday 28 April.