Colombia and the States split individual Pan-Am titles in Rosario finals

Olympic team silver medallist Jake KAMINSKI and five-time Oympian Khatuna LORIG won Team USA the Pan-American individual recurve men’s and women’s titles in Rosario.

KAMINSKI beat States teammate Sean MCLAUGHLIN six set points to two.

LORIG’s final went five sets with Colombia’s Natalia SANCHEZ – but she won the last to break a four-all set point tie after four three-arrow sets.

“I hadn’t shot in the two weeks before,” admitted KAMINSKI. “Our tournament season has just been so busy. I’ve been through injuries and other health issues – so I’m just have that even though I took a short break I was able to win.”

The Pan-American Championships also included para archery competition categories. “Armless Archer” Matt STUTZMAN shot clean 10s in the compound mixed team final, held in between the individual finals.

The States pair beat Canada, 146-129.

“An awesome first team gold medal for the USA paras,” said London 2012 Paralympic silver medallist Matt, who was – as usual – a favourite for spectators.

The Plaza de Banderas finals venue was full throughout the evening archery session.

“I like playing with the crowd and talking to everybody,” he explained.

Alejandra USQUIANO beat Mexico’s Linda OCHOA to the Pan-Am compound women’s title by two points. The match was tied at 111-all with three arrows to go.

Linda shot a 27, Alejandra two 10s and a nine.

USQUIANO was Archery World Cup Final Champion in Paris last year, but lost to Colombian teammate Sara LOPEZ in the first round of the circuit’s finale at Lausanne 2014 – who went on to win.

“A lot’s happened this year, many surprises,” said Alejandra. “After what happened in Switzerland with my trigger” – she had a mechanical failure with her equipment – “I’m so glad it worked here.”

The compound men’s final was even closer.

After making his first final at his home Medellin World Cup stage earlier this year, Daniel MUNOZ found himself tied at 140 apiece with Venezuela’s Leandro ROJAS after the regulation 15-arrows.

Silver-medallist at Medellin 2014, MUNOZ did one better in Rosario. He shot a 10 to ROJAS’s nine in the tiebreaker.

With USQUIANO and MUNOZ taking individual gold, all four compound and recurve team titles secured – and an individual recurve women’s runner-up – Colombia comfortably topped the medal table in Rosario.

Second came the USA. States archers won every gold medal they had a finalist for.

See results from the 2014 Pan-American Archery Championships, which took place this week in Rosario, Argentina.

Photo courtesy of Archery 10 10 10 magazine.