LINCOLN, Nebraska – Official practice is complete, as is the new-look welcome party, with a record-breaking number of archers now set for the 2026 WIAWIS USA Archery JOAD Target Nationals and JOAD U.S. Open.
When first arrows land in qualification on Thursday, it will mark the start of the largest-ever event hosted by USA Archery, with more than 940 athletes gathering at Lincoln Sports Foundation over the coming days.
This new high follows hot on the heels of the 925 archers who took part in the fourth and final USAT Qualifier Series finale last weekend, the Rebel Gear Buckeye Classic. That figure was the most-ever for a USAT event.
Archers have so far weathered a variety of Nebraska conditions, from the sweltering heat of unofficial practice on Monday to a drop of 20 degrees coupled with rain for official practice on Wednesday.
Official practice was followed by the Bullseye Bonanza, the official kickoff party. Games and activities kept the archers busy and afforded them time to relax and prepare for this premiere youth archery tournament, which provides an opportunity for the best young talent to push for national honors.
Between now and team rounds on Sunday morning, newcomers, up-and-comers and world champions will battle the elements as they strive to bring their best, whether that be a personal milestone, a podium finish, or a national title.
Archers within U13, U15, U18 and U21 will compete in barebow, compound, fixed pins and recurve.
The JOAD Target Nationals portion of the event provides youth archers the opportunity to compete for national titles and benchmark their performance against peers from across the country. The JOAD U.S. Open features elimination rounds that challenge competitors to perform under pressure.
In conjunction with this national championship weekend, USA Archery will also host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games U.S. Team Trials for archers in the Recurve U18 Division. The Youth Olympic Games take place in Dakar, Senegal from October 31-November 13.
You can follow all the latest scores and results from Lincoln, with photos available from each session.
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