thedrifter
08-13-08, 08:50 AM
Soldier takes gold in Beijing, breaks record
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Aug 13, 2008 8:26:12 EDT
BEIJING — Spc. Glenn Eller won the gold medal in double trap shooting Tuesday, building a solid lead during qualifying and then hitting 45 of 50 targets in the final round.
Eller, a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., set an Olympic record with a total score of 190 — and with a qualifying score of 145. Francesco D’Aniello of Italy won the silver, and Hu Binyuan of China took the bronze.
Eller led by four shots entering the final, meaning a 47 would have clinched the gold even if every other competitor shot perfectly. Eller missed the first two targets of the final but recovered quickly. He clinched the gold by hitting both targets in the next-to-last pair, then turned and immediately pumped his fist.
Eller, a Texas native, is a three-time Olympian. He finished 15th in 2000 and 17th in 2004. At 26, he was the youngest of the six finalists this year.
The final round included past Olympic champions Russell Mark of Australia and Richard Faulds of Britain. Two Americans qualified. Jeff Holguin of Yorba Linda, Calif., finished fourth.
Eller’s medal is the first American gold in Beijing in shooting, a Chinese strength.
D’Aniello and Hu shot the best final rounds, hitting 46 targets each. D’Aniello and Hu finished with total scores of 187 and 184.
Ellie
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Aug 13, 2008 8:26:12 EDT
BEIJING — Spc. Glenn Eller won the gold medal in double trap shooting Tuesday, building a solid lead during qualifying and then hitting 45 of 50 targets in the final round.
Eller, a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., set an Olympic record with a total score of 190 — and with a qualifying score of 145. Francesco D’Aniello of Italy won the silver, and Hu Binyuan of China took the bronze.
Eller led by four shots entering the final, meaning a 47 would have clinched the gold even if every other competitor shot perfectly. Eller missed the first two targets of the final but recovered quickly. He clinched the gold by hitting both targets in the next-to-last pair, then turned and immediately pumped his fist.
Eller, a Texas native, is a three-time Olympian. He finished 15th in 2000 and 17th in 2004. At 26, he was the youngest of the six finalists this year.
The final round included past Olympic champions Russell Mark of Australia and Richard Faulds of Britain. Two Americans qualified. Jeff Holguin of Yorba Linda, Calif., finished fourth.
Eller’s medal is the first American gold in Beijing in shooting, a Chinese strength.
D’Aniello and Hu shot the best final rounds, hitting 46 targets each. D’Aniello and Hu finished with total scores of 187 and 184.
Ellie