ANTALYA, Turkey – The USA capped off a fabulous Archery World Cup Stage 1 with their second team gold of the weekend, courtesy of recurve pair Casey Kaufhold and Brady Ellison.
Following a Saturday which brought gold in the compound women’s team event, silver for the compound men, and silver for Sawyer Sullivan in the individual category, Sunday saw Kaufhold and Ellison overcome Chinese Taipei 5-3 in the recurve mixed team gold medal match.
This is the second time Kaufhold and Ellison have won as a mixed team pair after victory in Paris last year. Kaufhold said, "Feels good, feels familiar now. The goal was to take this all the way to the (Olympic) Games."
They trailed 2-0 after the first end, having posted a score of 33, but hit back with 38, 38, 37 to end the World Cup Stage 1 on a high for the USA.
"I think we made some really good shots. I had a few here or there that I think I could've improved on," Kaufhold said with a smile. "But Brady had some really good ones in there. It was a great match and good start to the season."
The USA team returns with two team golds, one team silver, and an individual silver medal. The compound men’s team not only return home with silver but also a new world record, which they set during qualification on day one.
There are three remaining stages of the World Cup, before the final takes place in Mexico in September.
Stage 2: Shanghai, China – May 16-21
Stage 3: Medellin, Colombia – June 13-18
Stage 4: Paris, France – August 15-20
Final: Hermosillo, Mexico – September 9-10
The USA team in Turkey had warmed up for the World Cup Stage 1 at the Arizona Cup in Phoenix, the first of four USAT events. The next USAT event is the Gator Cup in Newberry, FL, which runs from May 12-14.
