Athlete of the week: Erika JONES (USA)

 
The women compound class of the Vegas Tournament belongs to Erika JONES – the 24-year-old American won the tournament for the third consecutive time earlier this month.   The American archer, known as Erika ANSCHUTZ before her wedding in March 2012, tied for the first spot of the tournament with compatriot Holly LARSEN at 898 points, just two points shy of the perfect 900 mark. Both athletes were pitted against one another in a shoot-off for the top spot. Showing nerves of steel, Erika JONES hit 10 after 10 to take the title.   “I can’t even begin to explain, three times in a row – I never expected to win it once. And it was crazy then, it was crazier the second time and I just can’t believe it now. It’s awesome”, declared a visibly excited Erika JONES after her victory.   The American athlete, who first picked up a bow at the age of six, won her first major title at age 13 in 2002: the cadet world title. She has distinguished herself by winning a total of 19 world championships medals so far (including indoor, outdoor, university, individual, team and mixed events) from cadet, through junior and senior: seven gold, four silver, and eight bronze. Her last gold medal came with the US team at the Turin 2011 World Championships, where she also won the individual bronze.   Erika JONES can often be seen on the World Cup podium as well. As a 22-year-old, she won the World Cup Final in Istanbul 2011. At the same time she won the Longines Prize for Precision awarded to the archer who shot the highest number of 10s during the World Cup season.   Erika JONES, who recently completed a Master of Arts degree in Forensic Psychology at the University of North Dakota, is currently the No. 5 compound athlete in the world. The highest rank she has reached is the first position, which she held for the last time in May 2012. In addition, she has also established more than 160 national records and over 20 world records in indoor and outdoor competitions from cadet to senior. Erika is also the Chairwoman for the USA Archery Athlete’s Advisory Council and the Compound Bow Athlete Representative on the USA Archery Board of Directors.   When asked her advice for up and coming archers who struggle with pressure, Erika JONES commented: “[The] most important thing whenever you’re under this kind of pressure is just to believe in your shot and to believe that you can hit the X, you can hit the middle whenever you need to. To have faith that you can do it whenever it counts.”   Biography Extract:    Erika JONES (USA) – Born 23 December 1988    1st Individual Las Vegas Tournament 2013 2nd Team World Cup stage 3- Ogden 2012 1st Team World Cup stage 2 – Antalya 2012 1st Team World Cup stage 1 – Shanghai 2012 1st Team World Indoor Championships – Las Vegas 2012 1st Individual World Cup Final – Istanbul 2011 2nd Individual World Cup stage 4 – Shanghai 2011 1st Team World Cup stage 3 – Ogden 2011 2nd Individual World Cup stage 3 – Ogden 2011 1st Team World Championships – Turin 2011 3rd Individual World Championships – Turin 2011 1st Individual World Cup stage 1 – Porec 2011 1st Team World University Championships - Shenzhen 2010 3rd Individual World University Championships –Shenzhen 2010 3rd Individual World Cup Final – Edinburgh 2010 1st Team World Cup stage 4 – Shanghai 2010 1st Team World Cup stage 3 – Ogden 2010 1st Individual World Cup stage 2- Antalya 2010 3rd Team World Championships – Ulsan 2009 3rd Individual Summer Universiade – Belgrade 2009 1st Team World Indoor Championships - Rzeszow 2009 3rd Individual World Indoor Championships – Rzeszow 2009 1st Individual World University Championships – Tainan 2008 3rd Team World Championships – Leipzig 2007 2nd Team World Championships - Madrid 2005    
    Find more information on Erika JONES (and all other archers) at the World Archery website and on her personal website.   World Archery Communication