Larsen, Shaner, and Spaude Compete at World Championships
CHANGWON, South Korea – UK freshman Will Shaner, senior Jason Spaude and former Wildcat and national champion Henrik Larsen are all competing at the 52nd International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championships this weekend in South Korea.
“I’m very excited for our shooters to be able to represent their countries at the World Championships,” head coach Harry Mullins said. “It shows the work and effort they have put in to date and the talent they have to be able to compete at the highest level.”
Shaner – an elite product of Colorado Springs, Colorado – is currently halfway through his events. The freshman compiled a 105.5, 105.4, 103.8, 102.8, 103.4, and 104.1 over six series for a 625.0 total in the men’s junior 10-meter air rifle, finishing 10th in the world in a field of 64 for the event and barely missing a qualification for the final eight by 1.1 points. As a piece of the team representing the United States, Shaner’s 625.0 combined with 616.3 and 613.4 from teammates Logan Michael Ogden and Matthew Xavier Sanchez, respectively, to lead the Americans to a 10th-place finish (1854.17). China (1876.2), Iran (1874.3), and Russia (1873.7) claimed the top three sports, respectively. Shaner still has the 50-meter prone and 3-position left on his list of events.
Larsen fired a 396 prone, 392 kneeling and 391 standing, which totaled him for a 1179 with 68 center shots, good enough for fifth in qualification and a spot in the men’s 50-meter 3-position final. In the final, the former Wildcat notched a 152.4 in kneeling and moved to 308.8 during prone before making it through three series in the elimination stage of standing with a 437.0, ultimately finishing just short of the bronze in fourth place in the world. As the main figure of the Norwegian team, Larsen teamed up with Simon Claussen and Oyvind Flatla to claim sixth place in the team portion with a 3513 and 179 center shots.
The NCAA smallbore national champion also finished 12th in 50-meter prone rifle with a 624.4 and fifth in the team portion at 1860.9. Larsen also finished inside the top 20 in men’s 10-meter air rifle with a 626.1 and Norway finished in 10th place in the team portion at 1870.9.
“Although Henrik has moved on, he will always be a Wildcat and I can’t wait to get Will back on campus and see what we can accomplish this year,” Mullins added. “They are Wildcats to be extremely proud of.”
Senior Jason Spaude, who has been vigorously training all summer, will compete in the sprint and shoot event on Wednesday, Sept. 12. Similar to the winter biathlon, competitors will alternate three 400-meter runs and two five-shot series.
“Jason has been training a lot for this event,” Mullins said. “This is an up-and-coming event around the world, and he has made us all proud with the effort he’s given and time he’s put in to prepare for it.”
