Thrasher Takes Junior Win At USA Shooting Winter Air Gun Championships

by
posted on December 4, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gt2.jpg

At this year’s USA Shooting Winter Air Gun (WAG) Championships, 2016 Olympic gold medalist Ginny Thrasher (Springfield, VA) posted the highest junior score on both days of qualification. This included winning the women’s junior finals. In the junior final, Thrasher’s score of 252.5 would have bested the ISSF Finals World Record by 0.4 points. Thrasher is a junior on the No. 1-ranked West Virginia University rifle team.

Thrasher atop the winner's podium
Junior women’s air rifle champion Ginny Thrasher, second place Angeline Henry and third place Kristen Hemphill.


Thrasher shot 249.6 in the junior final. Thrasher also shot in the open final and finished fourth with a score of 207.3. Additionally, Thrasher finished first in the women’s junior division on day one. Thrasher shot 252.5 in the women’s junior final to secure victory. Her score beat the current ISSF finals record of 252.1. Thrasher was the overall junior division winner with a two-day score of 830.9.

Ginny Thrasher and Elizabeth Gratz
Thrasher embraces teammate Elizabeth Gratz, who won the women’s open final.


The match was at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. More than 400 competitors attended the three-day air rifle and air pistol match at the Olympic Shooting Center. Temporary ranges were needed to accommodate everyone. This match serves as part one of two in the selection process for upcoming international competition including: ISSF World Cups, Championship of the Americas (CAT Games) and the ISSF World Championship for the Open division (athletes over age 21). The selection points from this competition will carry over to the second part of air gun selection that will take place at the Spring Selection Match next March at Fort Benning, GA.

Photos by USA Shooting

Latest

XS VP9 1
XS VP9 1

XS Sights Adds Fiber-Optic Sights, Optic Plates for HK VP9

XS Sights releases fiber-optic sights and CNC-machined optic plates for the HK VP9, offering ACRO and RMR footprint compatibility.

Beretta Launches Full Training Apparel Line

Beretta debuts Training Gear Collection at 2026 NRA Annual Meeting with seven pieces engineered alongside top shooters for range and competition.

NRA America’s Rifle Challenge Featured on ‘Gun Talk Nation’

Kyle Lamb joins ‘Gun Talk Nation’ to make the case for ARC as the best entry-level AR-15 competition and to explain why civilians and tactical shooters alike benefit from match experience.

Mein Reaches Super Final as Team Federal Cleans Up in San Antonio

Derrick Mein finished third in the Main Event and Gregg Wolf won American Field HOA at the 2026 World English Sporting Clays Championship.

Vincent Hancock Receives NRA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award in Houston

Four-time Olympic skeet gold medalist Vincent Hancock accepts 2026 NRA Media Golden Bullseye Competitor award at NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, Texas.

Results: 2026 Tennessee State BB Gun Championship

Lily Cope scored 474.9 of 536 to win the Tennessee State BB Gun Championship Match over 37 competitors in Cookeville.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.