SHOOTING: Bret Erickson and Corey Cogdell Lead the Way in Trap After Day One of 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting (Shotgun)

KERRVILLE, Texas (March 9, 2008)-The first day of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shooting (Shotgun) concluded today with Bret Erickson (Bennington, Neb.) and Corey Cogdell (Eagle River, Alaska) on top for Men's and Women's Trap. Three-time Olympian Erickson is in first place in Men's Trap with a total score of 313 targets. Three-time Olympian and 1996 bronze medalist Lance Bade (Vancouver, Wash.), Air Force shooter Dominic Grazioli (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and U.S. Army Marksmanship (USAMU) member Matthew Wallace (Stanton, Tenn.) are currently tied for second place with 309 targets. John Mullins (Bremerton, Wash.) is in fifth place with 307 targets and Derrick Mein (Walnut, Kan.) is holding sixth place with 306 targets. In Women's Trap, Cogdell, the 2007 Pan American Games and World Cup Korea bronze medalist, is holding first place with 298 targets, while 2004 Olympian Collyn Loper (Indian Springs, Ala.) is in second with 296 targets. Susan Sledge (El Cajon, Calif.) is in the third spot with 292 targets. USAMU teammates Theresa DeWitt (Cincinnati, Ohio), a 1996 Olympian, and Joetta Dement (Renton, Wash.) are in fourth and fifth place with 287 and 286 targets respectively. Miranda Wilder (Diana, Texas) is in sixth place with 284 targets. Top shotgun shooters from around the United States are vying for spots on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting (Shotgun) March 8-16, which is being held at the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center in Kerrville, Texas. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting is a collaborative partnership between the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Shooting. Men's and Women's Trap competition continues tomorrow with day two matches. Finals for Men's and Women's Trap will be held on Wednesday, March 12, which will determine the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for Trap. Shotgun athletes will be selected to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team based on the aggregate score from both the Fall Selection competition, which was held last August and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting (Shotgun). There are eight spots available to the U.S. Olympic Shotgun team: Men's Skeet, 2; Men's Trap, 2; Men's Double Trap, 2; Women's Skeet, 1 and Women's Trap, 1. For complete 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting (Shotgun) results, please visit www.usashooting.org. 2008 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS-SHOOTING (SHOTGUN) COMPETITION SCHEDULE: Monday, March 10 Men's and Women's Trap Match-Day 2 Tuesday, March 11 Men's and Women's Trap Match-Day 3 Wednesday, March 12 Men's and Women's Trap Finals (Selection of Olympic Team members for Men's and Women's Trap) Thursday, March 13 Men's Double Trap Official Training Men's and Women's Skeet Official Training Friday, March 14 Men's Double Trap Match Men's and Women's Skeet Match-Day 1 Saturday, March 15 Men's Double Trap Final (Selection of Olympic Team members for Double Trap) Men's and Women's Skeet Match-Day 2 Sunday, March 16 Men's and Women's Skeet Finals (Selection of Olympic Team members for Men's and Women's Skeet) Media interested in more information should contact Mary Beth Vorwerk, Media and Public Relations Manager, USA Shooting, at (719)866-4896 or marybeth.vorwerk@usashooting.org.