USA secures 1st finalist of home World Cup stage

The USA secured its first gold medal match contender of its home stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Salt Lake City when Brady Ellison and Mackenzie Brown beat India in a semifinal shoot-off in the recurve mixed team event.

“Mackenzie and I shot well today, we shot some good scores, especially for the wind we have,” said Ellison.

“The last time I was in the gold final in the US I think was in 2011. I really hope to be bringing home the gold medal here.”

Tied at four set points each after four sets in the semis, Mackenzie’s nine and Brady’s eight were enough to beat India in the tiebreaker after Deepika Kumari shot a wide six in challenging wind conditions.

“In those situations you always want to put your best shot down there and you want to shoot a 10, but the main goal is to shoot a good enough shot to not lose the match,” said Ellison.

Mackenzie said that windy conditions allow her to thrive:

“Being able to pick a spot and trust it is the most important part and that helps in the wind, but also when there’s not any wind.”

The US pair, who seeded second in Salt Lake City, have had success on the international circuit.

“I won my first medal at a World Cup with him in 2014 in Shanghai and last year we got bronze here in Salt Lake,” said Mackenzie. 

“Winning here would mean a lot of hard work has gone in to it and we deserve it.”

The USA face Russia – represented by Natalia Erdynieva and Arsalan Baldanov – in the final. Russia ranked just 12th, but upset favourites Chinese Taipei in four sets in the semis.

Jamie van Natta and Kris Schaff will also shoot for the compound mixed team bronze medal in Salt Lake City.

The third stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place in Salt Lake City, USA on 18-24 June.