National Junior Olympics: Reminder of Sports Greatness

The arrival of the National Junior Olympic Shooting Championships at USA Shooting headquarters is properly positioned during the onset of spring; it is fresh, invigorating and welcoming. Moreso, during a busy Olympic/Paralympic run-up it provides renewed perspective. Amid the flurry of activity and stress of the sport’s elite attempting to earn Olympic/Paralympic quotas and doing all they can to individually fulfill their Olympic and Paralympic dreams, the Junior Olympics are a reminder of this sport’s greatest characteristics: fun, camaraderie, growth and the realization that your score is but one small element of the overall experience.

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Olympic champion Lones Wigger with the Women’s Three-Position Rifle podium from the 2015 National Junior Olympic Championships. (L to R) Silver Medalist Hanna Carr; Gold Medalist Elizabeth Marsh; Bronze Medalist Ginny Thrasher. (USA Shooting photo)

After three weeks of competition, the ranges were finally silent Tuesday evening after the conclusion of Men’s Rifle. More than 500 athletes took part, highlighted by the championship performances of Elizabeth Marsh (women’s air & 3P rifle), Wyatt Brown (men’s air pistol), Jack Leverett (men’s sport pistol), Lydia Paterson (women’s air pistol), Irina Andrianova (women’s sport pistol), Will Anti (men’s air rifle), Jacob Buchanan (men’s prone & 3P rifle).

For the full women’s rifle recap, click here. For the full pistol recap, click here. Check under the ‘NEWS’ tab of www.usashooting.org for the men’s rifle recap that will be posted midday Wednesday, May 6. Pictures of every event may be downloaded for free at our Flickr site – click here.

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    The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women.