Gibson matches British record with 705-point qualifying and top seed

British 20-year-old Ella Gibson matched her international career best of 705 points in qualifying to seed as the top compound woman at the second stage of the 2021 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Lausanne.

“I was just really nervous, and I was just trying to keep myself steady and make my own shot and not waste any of my arrows,” Gibson said.

“Before I shot my second-to-last end, I heard the announcement that I was – at that moment – at the top, so that definitely made me nervous and gave me an idea of what I needed to do to be able to finish the round.”

Gibson finished well.

Her penultimate end was a perfect 60, five of the six arrows clustered low and left in the 10-ring. In between deep breaths during the last volley, she drilled another five 10s and dropped her last shot wide.

The final score matched Gibson’s top 72-arrow, 50-metre round from 2019 – and the British national record.

“I didn’t have to worry about constantly being cold and the rain and drying my bow or anything like that. So it was a lot nicer,” she said. “The breeze was a lot better as well. Sometimes we had a little bit of swelliness, but it was very manageable today.”

Conditions during Monday's practice had been arduous at best. Tuesday was much calmer.

Five compound women jostled for position until the closing ends of the morning session.

Andrea Marcos, Linda Ochoa-Anderson and Tanja Gellenthien all ended up tied, four points behind Ella, on 701. Marcos shot one more 10 than the others, securing second seed, and Linda beat Tanja on X-count, 22 to 19.

Sophie Dodemont, Toja Ellison, Paige Pearce and circuit debutant Paola Natale rounded out the top eight.

Natale took part in all four remote stages of the Indoor Archery World Series this past winter, but all her previous international experience comes in under-21 competition. She shot for Italy at the last World Archery Youth Championships in Madrid in 2019.

A second compound woman will definitely qualify for the 2021 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final at this tournament in Lausanne, as Colombia’s Nora Valdez, the winner in Guatemala City, is not participating.

The USA won compound women’s team gold at the season opener in Guatemala City and started this second stop with top seeding. Ochoa-Anderson, Paige Pearce and Savannah Vanderwier’s combined score of 2089 was 10 points up on Italy.

Competition continues for the higher-seeded compound women on Thursday, with eliminations down to the final fours, with the early rounds taking place tomorrow in Lausanne.

Top 8 seeds: Compound women

1. Ella Gibson, Great Britain – 705
2. Andrea Marcos, Spain – 701 (54 10s)
3. Linda Ochoa-Anderson, USA – 701 (53 10s, 22 Xs)
4. Tanja Gellenthien, Denmark – 701 (21 Xs)
5. Sophie Dodemont, France – 698
6. Toja Ellison, Slovenia – 697
7. Paige Pearce, USA – 697
8. Paola Natale, Italy – 696