Straight arrows: Shooting for the gold

Photo By Master Sgt. Jette Carr | Wounded warrior athletes shoot at their targets during the Warrior Games archery competition Oct. 1, 2014, at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Thirty-nine athletes contended in the recurve and compound bow categories, all aiming for a spot on the medals podium. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jette Carr)  

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

10.02.2014

Story by Senior Airman Jette Carr 

Defense Media Activity - Air Force       

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Silence wrapped around the athletes as they notched their arrows and stared down the line focused solely only on the target. Occasionally, a soft murmur or clap of appreciation could be heard from the stands as an arrow hit its mark during the Warrior Games archery competition here, Oct. 1.

Thirty-nine archers lined the floor making their bid for the top in the categories of individual and team recurve, and compound bow. During the first and second match all archers shot three arrows per round for 10 rounds. After that time was completed, scores were added up and the playing field was narrowed down.

From that group of 39, eight athletes with the highest scores from the recurve and compound categories were selected to continue on. Another 10 rounds ensued and the athletes were further eliminated until only four remained to shoot for the gold, silver and bronze medals.

In the individual recurve competition, Navy Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Johnathan Adiento and retired Staff Sgt. Daniel Crane entered the finals together. The rounds varied with the lead. Adiento would win one and in the next Crane leapt ahead. This leapfrog trend continued until the last shots were fired.

“It was definitely back and forth – very nerve wracking,” said Crane. “I felt good, and then I don’t know what happened on that last end. I threw almost all three of my arrows, and that’s when he caught up and took the gold.”

Holding no grudges, the two service members met in the middle of the court and congratulated each other as the next group of athletes lined up for their chance to grace the podium.

Retired Marine Corps Sgt. Clayton McDaniel gave his service a gold medal win as he triumphed in the compound bow competition.

Though he was shooting a good game, it wasn’t completely obvious that he’d be walking away with the top honors, especially when one of his arrows missed the inner target.

“I knew I’d made a really bad mistake, but as Marines, we usually push through, look at that bad mistake and make something positive out of it,” McDaniel said. “I came back and hit a 10.”

The results for the events were as follows:

Individual Recurve
1st place – Johnathan Adviento, Navy
2nd place – Daniel Crane, Air Force
3rd place – Billy Meeks, Army

Individual Compound Bow
1st place – Clayton McDaniel, Marines
2nd place – Frank Barroqueiro, Army
3rd place – Christopher Tyndall, U.S. Special Operations Command

Team Recurve
1st place – Army
2nd place – Air Force
3rd place – Navy

Team Compound Bow
1st place – Army
2nd place – Marines
3rd place – SOCOM

• Date Taken: 10.02.2014
• Date Posted: 10.03.2014 01:53
• Story ID: 144141
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US