MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Eight members of the West Virginia University rifle team will set their sights on the 2024 Paris Olympics from Sept. 28 - Oct. 3, in Fort Moore, Georgia. The competition serves as part one of the rifle smallbore and air rifle trials.
 
Fifth years Malori Brown and Mary Tucker, seniors Becca Lamb, Molly McGhin and Matt Sanchez, junior Gavin Barnick and freshmen Griffin Lake and Maximus Duncan are all set to compete.
 
The event is the first of the trials' three parts, with athletes facing four days of competition. Finals are set to take place on Saturday and Tuesday following the conclusion of qualification rounds.
 
The men will shoot smallbore from Thursday to Saturday and then transition into air rifle from Sunday to Tuesday. The women will shoot the opposite, opening with air rifle and finishing the event with smallbore.
 
"The USA Olympic Trials are one of the most exciting and intense competitions and this year will be the same," head coach Jon Hammond said. "There are three stages across the next six months that will determine the USA Olympic team for Paris, and it is a high priority for a number of our team members as we have a good majority of the team competing this week.
 
"For many, it represents the ultimate goal but for all, it provides competition experience, and I am sure it will help out team members throughout our season and in preparations for our NCAA Championships at the end of the season."
 
Of note, this weekend's points will carry over to the second and third part of the Rifle Olympic Trials. Part two is set to take place on Dec. 8-13, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. No team spots will be secured during the first or second stage of the Olympic Team Trials. The third and final stage will take place in the spring.
 
Recaps will be available following the conclusion of Saturday's finals and Tuesday's final at WVUsports.com.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVURifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.