Team USA shooters claimed three more medals on the second day of competition Sunday at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. Mounting the top step of the podium were Taylor Farmer (Castalia, Ohio) in the mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1 and Mike Tagliapietra (Fond du Lac, Wis.) in the 25m sport pistol SH1. Kevin Nguyen (Westminster, Calif.) took the bronze medal in the mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1.
“In the beginning I was a little overwhelmed because the beginning wasn’t too great, but I eventually built it back up to where it needed to be,” said Farmer, USA Shooting’s Para Shooter of the Year for 2018. “The last 15 shots really counted the most.”
In the final, Farmer calmed her nerves enough to defeat Peru’s Jorge Arcela, 250.2 to 250.1, after shooting a 10.4 and 10.7 to Arcela’s 10.4 and 9.7.
“At the start it’s more nerve-wracking, then when you’re at the last shot because it’s the final last shot and I’m not too worried about it. I’m not worried about it to the point where my nerves are kicking in. I’m more relaxed in the last 10 shots,” Farmer said.
Len Esparza (Fort Collins, Colo.) finished sixth in the mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1 for the U.S.
Tagliapietra was fourth after the precision round of the 25m sport pistol SH1 qualification and moved up to second after the rapid fire portion.
“It was not very good, except for the end result,” said Tagliapietra, who admittedly struggled through a mental block. “It’s been an ongoing thing for me, not just this match. It’s been a struggle.”
Tagliapietra outlasted Brazil’s Geraldo Rosenthal in the elimination round for the gold medal, while Cuba’s Yenigladys Suarez claimed the bronze. Tricia Downing (Denver, Colo.) finished tied for fourth, while Marco De La Rosa (San Antonio, Texas) placed eighth.
On Monday, Nguyen, Nick Beach (Dresden, Ohio) and John Joss (Corsicana, Texas) compete in the mixed 50m rifle prone SH1, while De La Rosa, Tagliapietra and Aaron Causey (Riverside, Ala.) aim for the podium in the men’s 10m air pistol SH1.
The shooting events wrap up Tuesday with Dahl, Almlie-Ryan and Stetson Bardfield (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in action in the mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2, and Downing competing in the women’s 10m air pistol SH1.
Full schedules and results can be found at https://www.lima2019.pe/en/results.
