Three targets – 18, 19, and 20 – were also removed from the compound course for similar reasons, after some groups had already shot them. The compound field was ranked on the remaining 21 targets plus the unmarked round on Wednesday.
Compound qualifying saw Mike Schloesser, the reigning World Games champion on top of the field with 779, a single point ahead of Austria‘s Nico Wiener. Both are former World Field champions.
“I felt like the courses were challenging but also what made it more challenging were how tricky the conditions were walking. Shooting was nice, it was a nice level. The courses were just like very muddy,” said Schloesser.
“I’m a big marked guy. I don’t do field archery normally, I do maybe one or two a year, mostly once a year. So for me, unmarked day is really challenging, I don’t really do it that often. Marked day is in my wheelhouse. I’m really satisfied with how today went,” he added.
The women‘s compound field saw Paige Pearce of the host nation leading Amanda Mlinaric and then Ella Gibson in third. The three athletes made up the podium at the Lac La Biche 2024 World Archery Field Championships – in the same order.
In recurve, Germany‘s Florian Unruh finished just ahead of defending champion Brady Ellison on countback after both archers finished on 732. Unruh won the event here in 2022.
Defending champion Roberta Di Francesco maintained her position from the unmarked round to stay top of the recurve women‘s field, twelve points ahead of teammate Chiara Rebagliati.
The competition continues with individual and mixed team eliminations on Friday. The weekend‘s finals will be available to watch on archery+.
