SHOOTING Preview: No. 1-ranked Kim Rhode leads U.S. at Americas Championships

The 12th Championship of the Americas will start Thursday in Guadalajara (MEX) and carry on through the 10th, with competition in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events. A enormous field of 365 shooters from 23 countries is registered, with the U.S. bringing the largest squad at 48.

The top-ranked shooters from the Americas in each individual event according to the ISSF World Rankings include:

Men:

10 m Air Pistol:
27. Julio Almeida (BRA)
34. Marko Carillo (PER) and Felipe Almeida Wu (BRA)

25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol:
13. Keith Sanderson (USA)
16. Jorge Alvarez (CUB)

10 m Air Rifle:
47. Facundo Firmapaz (ARG)
60. Bryant Wallizer (USA)

50 m Rifle/3 Positions:
5. Michael McPhail (USA)
13. Matt Emmons (USA)

Trap:
11. Walton Eller (USA)
36. Casey Wallace (USA)

∙ Skeet:
1. Vince Hancock (USA)
12. Frank Thompson (USA)

Women:

10 m Air Pistol:
15. Alejandra Zavala (MEX)
30. Lexi Lagan (USA)

25 m Pistol:
40. Brenda Silva (USA)
49. Alejandra Zavala (MEX)

10 m Air Rifle:
28. Ginny Thrasher (USA)
38. Minden Miles (USA)

50 m Rifle/3 Positions:
30. Sarah Beard (USA)
50. Sagen Maddalena (USA)

Trap:
11. Ashley Carroll (USA)
17. Aeriel Skinner (USA)

Skeet:
1. Kim Rhode (USA)
2. Caitlin Connor (USA)

Not all of these ranked athletes are entered, but many are, including the top-ranked Rhode (women’s Skeet) and no. 2 Connor (women’s Skeet), no. 3-ranked Amber English (women’s Skeet) and no. 5 McPhail in the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions.

In addition to the individual events, there are three mixed-team events in 10 m Air Pistol, 10 m Air Rifle and Trap.

The Americas Championship is only held once every four years, with the last also in Guadalajara in 2014. Look for results here.