YECHEON, Korea – The USA won three gold medals in the compound division on Saturday at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 2, and Sawyer Sullivan was involved in all three matches.
One week on from winning gold at the 2024 USA Archery Collegiate Target Nationals for Texas A&M University and Sawyer Sullivan has swept the board on the world stage.
His gold rush came in the compound men team, mixed team and individual. The individual success was his first at a World Cup Stage and means he has secured a place at the World Cup Final, which takes place in Tlaxcala, Mexico in late October.
Not only did the USA claim gold in the individual compound but Sullivan’s opponent in the final was teammate James Lutz. In all, the USA will return from Korea with three gold, one silver and one bronze, with that bronze won on Wednesday by the compound women team of Olivia Dean, Carson Krahe and Alexis Ruiz.
Lutz was alongside Sullivan for the first gold of the day, as was Kris Schaff. The talented trio tackled Turkey in the gold medal match of the compound men team, winning 235-233. Sullivan certainly came ready to take on the day’s challenge, with all of his eight arrows hitting the maximum!
Next up was the mixed team gold medal match, with Olivia Dean as his partner. The pair had set a new U21 mixed team world record during qualification but had to come from behind to topple India, winning 155-153 having trailed by two points after the first end.
Before Lutz and Sullivan were able to meet in the gold medal match, both had to come through their semifinals. Lutz was Mr. Consistent, defeating Prathamesh Bhalchandra Fuge (IND) with his third score in a row of 148, having posted that to win through the 1/8 and quarterfinal rounds. He triumphed 148-143.
Sullivan’s path to the final was not so straightforward. Facing world number one Mike Schloesser (NED), Sullivan needed a shootoff to win after both archers scored 147. Both landed a 10 with their one arrow, and Sullivan’s was deemed closer to the center.
The battle between teammates was immense. Lutz did not put a foot wrong with his first 12 arrows and led 120-119 going into the final end. Sullivan had kept pace for the first 11 arrows before landing a nine. He regained his form for the decisive final end, firing in a maximum while Lutz put two into the nine. Sullivan edged this one 149-148 to complete his golden day.
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