Medellin finals preview: Compound Sunday

Compound Sunday at Medellin – the last day of matches from an Archery World Cup stage in 2015, and brought to you, live on Archery TV, from Parque Norte in the heart of Colombia’s city of eternal spring.

Here are our picks for compound Sunday in Medellin…

Compound men’s individual gold final (afternoon session): Roberto Hernandez  / SebastiEn Peineau 

Roberto made his first ever gold medal match on the Archery World Cup circuit by beating first-timer on the tour, Chilean athlete Alejandro Martin, by two points, 147-145. Hernandez has been an international fixture for a decade. 

Then it was Spain’s Alberto Blazquez – before beating Dane Martin Damsbo in a quarterfinal shoot-off. In the semis, Roberto beat a second Danish archer in a row: World Archery Champion Stephan Hansen, 146-145.

His opponent in the final: Frenchman Sebastian Peineau – who beat Demir Elmaagacli from Turkey, Federico Pagnoni from Italy and reigning Archery World Cup Final Champion Bridger Deaton during the eliminations.

Shanghai winner Seb won all his matches, except the one against Bridger, by a single point. He qualified for his second Archery World Cup Final in 2015 after finishing sixth at Lausanne 2014.

Advantage: Hernandez

Compound men’s individual bronze final (afternoon session): Reo Wilde  / Stephan Hansen 

The perfect billing: Experience v Generation X. One of the most decorated compound archers in the world, the current 15-arrow match world record holder at 150 12X and six-time (including 2015) Archery World Cup Finalist versus the new, 20-year-old World Archery Champion.

Seeded second, Reo beat Mario Cardoso then Colombia’s Daniel Muñoz in a shoot-off – 10X to 9 – to secure World Cup Final qualification. He then dispatched Frenchman Dominique Genet, 147-144, but lost to Genet’s teammate Seb Peineau in the semis.

Hansen knocked out Mister Perfect Mike Schloesser in a tiebreaker that went to a second shoot-off and Colombia’s Camilo Cardona by four – but lost to Roberto Hernandez in the semifinals.

Advantage: Wilde

Compound women’s individual gold final (afternoon session): Sara Lopez  / Paige Pearce 

Lopez recently broke the 72-arrow ranking round world record for a third time in a row. She also holds the 15-arrow match world-best mark – and seeded top at Medellin 2015.

She and Paige Pearce know each other well from the junior ranks. The girls are the same age: 20. But, while Lopez already has five individual podiums to her name on the Archery World Cup circuit, this will be Paige’s first – although she did take team gold with the USA in Medellin one year ago.

The reigning Archery World Cup Final has already secured her first home-stage medal (she’s guaranteed at least silver), and with the home crowd behind her, Lopez is favourite to take gold.

Advantage: Lopez

Compound women’s individual bronze final (afternoon session) Maria Eugenia Gonzalez  / Ana Cristina Juarez 

In her second Archery World Cup stage appearance after Medellin 2014, Maria Eugenia sliced through the brackets after seeding 12th, knocking out two-time Finalist Laura Longo in a shoot-off in the process. She was only stopped when she met Lopez in the semis – and still put up a good show: 146 to her opponent’s 148.

The third member of the Mexican women’s team, and Gonzalez’ bronze final match-up, Ana Cristina’s previous podiums came in team competition the junior ranks. She knocked out World Cup ranking leader and teammate Linda Ochoa in eliminations.

Earlier in the competition week in Medellin, the Mexican team said that having the Archery World Cup Final in their country in 2015 had pushed them to be better.

Advantage: Juarez

Compound mixed team gold final (afternoon session): Italy  / Slovenia 

A shot at a first gold for Slovenia’s Toja Cerne and Dejan Sitar, who have competed together as a mixed team for five years. Their peak previous to Medellin 2015: Silver in Porec back in 2011.

There was rumour that Italy was considering forfeiting the match due to an sickness bug affecting team members – but all signs point to the athletes pulling through and taking to the field on compound Sunday in Medellin.

Advantage: Slovenia

Compound men’s team gold final (morning session): USA  / Italy 

World record holders for the 24-arrow team match at 239 out of 240, the USA came close to that mark (with 237) in their semifinal in Medellin. The team, Braden Gellenthien, Reo Wilde and Steve Anderson, has not missed a World Cup podium in 2015.

The Italians, seemingly stronger as a team than individually in recent years, picked up team bronze at stage three in Wroclaw – and three third-place finishes on the circuit in 2014. Silver’s already an improvement, but gold would taste much better for one of the event’s steady powers.

Advantage: Italy

Compound WOmen’s team gold final (morning session): Italy  / Colombia 

On home soil, Colombian women Sara Lopez, Alejandra Usquiano and Maria Aura Bravo – the same line-up that finished with silver at Medellin 2014 – will enjoy the kind of home support that a team needs to put on an inspiring performance.

It wasn’t an easy path to the final, with a two-point match against Venezuela and 3-pointer over Mexico, but 2013 World Champion Colombia have the edge against the visiting challengers.

That said, Italy did knock out top seeds, the USA, in the semis – so the European squad is no stranger to an upset…

Advantage: Colombia