Photo by World Archery
Karen Sternfeld feels she belongs and after Stage 3 of the World Archery Para Series earlier this month it is hard to disagree.
The para recurve archer posted a score of 564 in qualification, which was good enough for seventh in the rankings. That score was an improvement on Stage 2 in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic (553, 8th) in July, which in turn was an upgrade on Stage 1 in Bangkok, Thailand (462, 16th) back in April.
“I have been doing a lot of work on my mental game,” Sternfeld began. “And the pieces fell into place during my first match against Flora from Germany.”
That match against Flora Kliem – who finished fourth in Nove Mesto – went the way of Sternfeld 6-0, setting up a quarterfinal meeting with second seed Somayeh Rahimi Ghahderijani (IRI). Sternfeld led 4-2 after three ends before losing 6-4. The Iranian archer went on to win gold.
Sternfeld struggled in the conditions in Bangkok earlier in the year but has taken steps to be better prepared physically, just one area of focus in a year in which the improvements have been clear.
“I have found a way that works to keep me from overheating in the hot conditions as well as knowing what nutrition and hydration I need. The formula seems to be working, so the heat becomes a non-issue for me on the line.”
There are two more stages in the inaugural World Archery Para Series, with the next one being in Santiago, Chile from October 14-18. The series wraps with Stage 5 in Dubai from December 5-10.
With an eye already on Stage 4 in Chile, Sternfeld said, “I will continue to work on fine-tuning my performance in relation to fatigue, nutrition, hydration and adapting to the event schedules. Practice makes perfect.”
Sternfeld competed in all four events in this year’s USAT Qualifier Series, taking gold at the Easton Foundations Salt Lake Summit, Easton Foundations SoCal Showdown and Rebel Gear Buckeye Classic.
Her best qualification score in the USAT Qualifier Series was the 557 totaled at Salt Lake Summit. The 564 shot in India a season’s best and further evidence that the hard work is paying off, with Sternfeld adding, “I am continuing to improve and feel on a level with the competition.”
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