Ellison double-bows at Versus MX Shoot: ranks 1st recurve, 6th compound

Three-time Olympic medallist Brady Ellison has doubled up to open his outdoor season at the Versus MX Shoot in Guadalajara, Mexico. He scored 686 out of a possible 720 points at 70 metres to seed first overall in the recurve men’s ranking round – and then ranked six in the 50-metre compound event with 693 points.

Ellison was 25 points clear of Ricardo Soto at the top of the recurve list. He was 17 points behind leader Roberto Hernandez, on 710, in the compound ranking.

“Little disappointed with this round with compound,” said Brady on his Instagram page. “Still my [personal best] considering it's the first one I have shot. Shot a 693.”

The four-time Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion shot the fourth-best first-half compound score with 351 points for 36 arrows, but opened up over the back half with 342.

“Back to the drawing board,” he added.

The last time Brady shot both bowstyles in major competition was at the Archery World Cup stages in Porec in 2009, when ranking was done on the 1440 Round over 90, 70, 50 and 30 metres. He scored 1342 points with his recurve and 1385 points with his compound.

Brady said the reason behind shooting both compound and recurve was to get in as much competition practice as possible in the warm Mexican weather.

Mike Schloesser and Steve Anderson were ranked the number two and three compound men with 708 and 705 points, respectively.

Slovenia’s Toja Ellison lead the compound women’s field with 693 points, ahead of world number one Sarah Sonnichsen (687) and Cassidy Cox (681).

Former Mexican archer Gabriela Bayardo, now shooting for the Netherlands, topped the recurve women’s qualification with 658 points; she was followed by Ana Luiza Caetano (630) from Brazil and Ana Umer (628) from Slovenia.

The Versus MX Shoot 2018 takes place on 21-25 March in Guadalajara, Mexico; follow online and via the event Facebook page.