SHOOTING: Scherer, Sowash, Shinn and Turner are in the Lead after Day One of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shooting (Airgun)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 1, 2008)-The first day of competition at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shooting (Airgun) concluded today with Stephen Scherer (Billerica, Mass.) and Amy Sowash (Richmond, Ky.) in the lead for rifle, while Brenda Shinn (Riverside, Calif.) and Jason Turner (Rochester, N.Y.) are on top for pistol. In Men's Air Rifle, West Point Cadet Scherer finished in first place today with a match score of 595, a final of 104.6 for a total score of 699.6. Right behind him in second place is 2004 Olympic gold medalist Matthew Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.) who is vying for his third berth to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. Emmons finished the day with a total score of 698.3. Matthew Rawlings (Wharton, Texas), the 2007 Pan American Games silver medalist in Air Rifle, is in the third spot with 697.2. Sowash, the 2007 Pan Am silver medalist, is leading the way in Women's Air Rifle after finishing the day with a final score of 498.2."I learned a lot as far as nerve level goes in my match today,"said Sowash."It was a level of nervousness I have never had to deal with before, but I accomplished one of my goals by shooting all 10s in the final. Being nervous forced me to focus and I am going to continue to try to achieve my goals and be steady for the next couple of day because you never know what's going to happen at these matches."Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.), the 2007 World Cup USA bronze medalist in air rifle and Emily Caruso (Fairfield, Conn.), a 2004 Olympian, are right behind Sowash in second and third place with scores of 497.0 and 496.7 respectively. Shinn is in first place for Women's Air Pistol with a score of 474.2. Three-time Olympian Rebecca Snyder (Grand Junction, Colo.) is in second with 468.9 and Theresa Meyer (Dearborn, Mich.) is holding the third spot with a score of 466.1. In Men's Air Pistol, 2004 Olympian Turner is in the lead with a score of 681.3."It was a tough day, but I worked really hard,"said Turner."I am going to go into tomorrow with the same attitude and hopefully it will keep me near the top."Brian Beaman (Selby, S.D.) is in second place for Men's Air Pistol with a score of 678.2 and John Bickar (Canton, Ohio) is in third with 674.8. Top air rifle and air pistol 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 (Airgun) February 29-March 3, which is being held at the U.S. Olympic Shooting Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting is a collaborative partnership between the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Shooting. Airgun athletes will be selected to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team on the final day of competition by a combination of the match scores from all three days of competition, plus each athlete's top two finals scores. There are a total of five slots available for air rifle and air pistol on the U.S. Olympic team. There are two slots for Men's Air Rifle and one slot each for Women's Air Rifle, Men's Air Pistol and Women's Air Pistol. The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting (Airgun) competition continues tomorrow with Men's Air Rifle match and finals, Women's Air Rifle match and finals, Men's Air Pistol match and finals and Women's Air Pistol match and finals. The event concludes on Monday with the nomination of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team for Men's and Women's Air Rifle and Air Pistol. Complete 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting (Airgun) results can be found by visiting www.usashooting.org. 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.

Tags: Amy Sowash, Brenda Shinn, Brian Beaman, Emily Caruso, Jamie Beyerle, Jason Turner, John Bickar, Matthew Emmons, Matthew Rawlings, Rebecca Snyder, Stephen Scherer