September 28, 2026

YANKTON, S.D. – Success on the World Archery Area Championships really was a collective effort because the USA improved on their gold medal haul from two years in the past, and in doing so swept half of the group golds on provide.

With six gold, eight silver and one bronze, the USA completed second within the standings with 15 total medals. 4 of these gold medals got here in group competitors, with two additionally being received by area ‘rookie’ Casey Kaufhold in recurve ladies and Hailey Franzone in recurve U21 ladies.

Franzone (pictured) received bronze on her debut two years in the past and was one in all seven archers sporting the USA jersey from the state of Arizona. The others have been Emma Berkshire, Abigail Kippes, Khloe Markle, Jackson Miller, Ella O’Brien and Nicole Rasor.

Kippes and Markle, together with Chloe Crandall, received ladies U21 group gold. Kippes and Pierce McAdam (pictured beneath) took prime honors in recurve U21 blended group. Markle additionally received silver with Grady Kane in compound U21 blended group. Miller took silver in recurve U21 males.

Franzone, Kippes, Markle, Miller, O’Brien and Rasor have been all recipients of the 2026 Arizona Athlete Grant, which ‘acknowledges and helps Arizona archers who’ve earned a spot on a Excessive Efficiency Worldwide Crew and the chance to symbolize Crew USA on the world stage.’

Kaufhold totally stepped into area archery this yr and left Yankton as a double world champion. In addition to profitable particular person gold, she additionally took the ladies’s group title alongside Erin Hollom (barebow) and Paige Pearce (compound).

Hollom and Kaufhold have been each making their World Archery Area Championships debut and made historical past alongside the hugely-decorated Pearce as they mixed to ship ladies’s group gold for the very first time.

Kaufhold stated, “I really feel actually good. I’ve been chasing a world title for a very long time. I’ve been silver at a world championship earlier than and fourth, so I knew it was only a matter of time, I truthfully didn’t suppose area was going to be the primary world champion title I had, however I’m very comfortable for it.

“I labored actually onerous. I shot a number of arrows. I arrange my gear pretty much as good as I might. I ready rather well for this match. It simply feels good to know that it paid off.”

Seeded 5 after qualification, Kaufhold defeated Gaby Schloesser (NED) within the quarterfinals earlier than denying defending champion and prime seed Roberto Di Franceso (ITA) a repeat with victory within the semifinals. The 22-year-old U.S. archer made certain of a golden debut with a 62-52 conquer Audrey Machinet (FRA).

“Area archery could be very completely different world but it surely’s enjoyable,” added Kaufhold. “My aim right now was simply to have enjoyable. If I win, nice, I simply wish to take pleasure in. And I did each of these issues, so I am comfortable.”

Debutants delivered for the USA, however so too did the veteran area archers. Brady Ellison departed Yankton with a medal of every colour. He now has 25 medals in recurve from the assorted world championship occasions, together with a powerful 11 from the World Archery Area Championships, seven from World Indoor and 7 on the World Archery Championships. He received group gold on the 2004 World Archery Youth Championships in compound!

Ellison commented, “Anytime you come away from World Champs with medals it is superior. This week was such a wrestle for me. I struggled within the rain. I had issues with my marks all week, prefer it was simply all the things, simply always altering.

“Getting moist after which drying out and so to have the ability to combat by way of all the things and are available away with three medals is actually superior. Form of bummed concerning the particular person. Casey and I fought onerous to return again in to win a bronze after which you understand that match in opposition to Italy going right into a shoot off for the lads’s group gold was simply superior.”

This was the primary time since 2016 in Dublin, Eire that the USA had received gold in males’s group.

Due to the generosity of the Lancaster Archery Basis, every U.S. archer collaborating on the World Archery Area Championships acquired a $500 stipend.

Medalists

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