MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Several with current and past ties to the West Virginia University rifle team enjoyed strong showings at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Rio de Janeiro World Cup, April 16-24, at the Olympic Shooting Centre, located inside Deodoro Park, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

The second ISSF World Cup stage of the 2016 season, the competition also served as a test event for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.

 

Freshman Ginny Thrasher, a recent United States Olympic qualifier, finished 10th in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions qualification relay on April 22, shooting 583. A native of Springfield, Virginia, Thrasher advanced to the qualifier following a first place, 587 showing in the event’s first elimination relay on April 21.

 

Thrasher also shot in the women’s 10m air rifle on April 16 and finished 28th in the qualification relay with a 414.8 mark.

 

Senior Garrett Spurgeon shot for the United States in the men’s 10m air rifle on April 18 and placed 40th in the qualifier with a 621.6 mark.

 

Meelis Kiisk, also a senior, shot for Estonia in all three men’s events. Kiisk opened the week with a 618.9 mark in the men’s 10m air rifle qualification and finished 55th overall. He then shot in the men’s 50m rifle prone event on April 20 and placed 39th in the first elimination relay with a 613.6 mark. Kiisk saved his best performance for last, as he advanced to the qualification relay in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions competition with a 1160 mark in the first elimination relay on April 23, good enough for 21st place. He shot 1156 in the qualifier and finished 41st overall.

 

Of note, two former Mountaineers earned top-eight finishes for Italy at the competition.

 

Nicco Campriani finished fourth in the men’s 50m rifle prone on April 21, shooting 624.6 in the qualification relay and 165.3 in the final. He also placed seventh in the men’s 10m air rifle on April 18, shooting 627.5 in the qualification and 102.0 in the final. Campriani also finished second in the first elimination relay of the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions with a 1179 mark, but he did not shoot in the qualification relay.

 

Petra Zublasing finished fourth in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions with a 435.7 showing in the final, advancing after shooting 585 in the qualifier. She also shot 415.3 in the women’s 10m air rifle and placed 24th overall.

 

Additionally, former Mountaineer Ziva Dvorsak shot for Slovenia and finished 14th in the women’s 10m air rifle (416.3) and 47th in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions (570).

 

The third ISSF World Cup stage of the 2016 season will be held May 19-26, in Munich, Germany.