Germans on top: RICHTER and UNRUH qualify first and second at the world fields

This year is Elena RICHTER’s year.

Defending her world title in Zagreb, she’s already had her best results ever on the World Cup target archery circuit – including a stage gold in Shanghai – and qualified for the Lausanne World Cup Final.

“I’m aiming for gold,” said a confident Elena, after posing the top qualification score after the world field marked round today, and there’s only one archer she wants to contest it with: “I’m looking forward to meeting Lisa in the final match.”

Lisa UNRUH led RICHTER by 19 points after the unmarked course yesterday, but they swapped the top two seed spots today after Lisa’s marked score was only good for eighth in the division.

She remained ahead of third-placed Irene FRANCHINI (ITA) and a ranking-climbing reigning World Games Champion Naomi FOLKARD (GBR), who jumped up to fourth over the course of today.

“These two days were more training for me as I didn’t have much time to prepare due to all the target archery events,” Lisa explained.

For training, her scores were impressive: “I shoot every day as it comes and just concentrate on the moment.”

A pair of World Cup Finalists this year led the compound women’s rankings as well. Toja CERNE (SLO) retained her clasp on the top spot but was trailed closely by new field archer Linda OCHOA.

CERNE was the only athlete in the division to shoot over 400 on both the unmarked and marked courses. Her two-day total was 13 points above that of Mexico’s OCHOA.

Olympic team silver medallist with the States at London 2012, Brady ELLISON was top recurve man. “It feels good to qualify first,” he said, after posting a third-best in the field 373 for the marked course to make a 751 total. “I think I could have shot better today, though.”

ELLISON shot better than yesterday, on the unmarked course, when he shot the wrong target. Today, he issued a message of warning: “I’m coming for gold.”

It’s a message top scorer on the marked round and reigning World Field Champion JC VALLADONT might not worry too much about.

The Frenchman’s 382 for the day was seven better that his nearest opponent – and shot him up the leader board from 10th to third… one point behind his teammate Jerome BIDAULT.

From now on in Zagreb competition, all targets are set at marked distances.

Great Britain’s Alan WILLS, who was world champ before VALLADONT and led the field after the 24 marked targets, had a disappointing day. Well off the pace, the Brit dropped to ninth. He’ll still qualify for tomorrow’s eliminations, though.

As will all three USA compound men, in impressive fashion after converting the claim they staked on the first day of competition. Jesse BROADWATER matched his 425 unmarked total on the marked round, putting together an impressive 850 total for his Zagreb qualification.

That was 20 points ahead of his nearest opponent, teammate Dave COUSINS, and 30 ahead of the highest non-States qualifier. That was the Netherland’s Sander DOLDERMAN, who came in fourth.

Steve ANDERSON, the third US man, had 826 and the third seed.

Swedish barebows Martin OTTOSON, Bobby LARSSON and Erik JONSSON were in the top four men over the two days. Finland’s Timo LESKINEN broke up a Sweden top three – which was how the leader board looked after qualification day one – and finished today in third.

Italian Eleonora STROBBE was the first-ranked barebow woman.

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