US men’s compound set new world record

The USA’s men’s compound open team set a new world record by just one point as the Juan Enrique Barrios Cup wrapped up on Friday (5 May) in Manati, Puerto Rico.

Kevin Polish, Ben Thompson and Andre Shelby set the new world record, which is subject to ratification, with a combined score of 2063 points during the qualification phase. It was a point higher than Italy’s world record, which was set during the 2015 World Archery Championships in Donaueschingen, Germany.

“When Italy set that record both the [teams from the] USA and Italy beat the previous score,” said Thompson. “We are looking forward to [the 2017 World Championships in] Beijing, as we are quite likely to be shooting for gold versus the Italians this time.”

The trio highlighted a successful showing for the USA, who overcame rain and high humidity to top the medals table with 26, 12 being gold. It was their final international competition before the World Archery Para Championships in Beijing, China, this September. Host nation Puerto Rico were next with 17 total medals, including five golds.

Polish and Thompson took gold and silver, respectively, in the compound men’s open. Great Britain’s John Walker, a double gold medallist from Rio 2016, claimed the bronze, while reigning Paralympic champion in the men’s individual compound open Shelby finished in sixth.

Canada’s Karen Van Nest won the compound women’s open. Great Britain’s Tania Nadjarah took the recurve women’s open gold, and the USA’s Timothy Palumbo won the recurve men’s open. Palumbo’s compatriot Jerry Shields and Great Britain’s Jessica Stretton won the men’s and women’s W1, respectively.

“I hope to get to the World Championships in Beijing,” said Stretton, 17, who won captured attention when she won the women’s W1 gold at Rio 2016. “I am hoping to improve by working on a few technical points and score a new world record.”

Complete results from the Juan Enrique Barrios Cup can be found on World Archery’s website.