Four-time Olympian Jason Parker Collects World Cup Final Trophy
OutdoorHub 10.25.12
Four-time Olympian Jason Parker demonstrated once again why he’s considered one of the top marksmen in the world after he claimed the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Final trophy in the Men’s Three-Position Rifle event Thursday in Bangkok, Thailand.
Sergeant First Class Parker (USAMU/Omaha, Neb.) won the ISSF World Cup Final beating Han Jinseop of South Korea and Olympic finalist Ole Krsitian Bryhn of Norway.
“It feels great to win the ISSF World Cup Final,” Parker said.
Ranked ninth in the world, Parker finished in 30th place in London at the 2012 Olympic Games after posting a 1,159 in the qualifying round. He earned his invitation to Bangkok after winning the Milan World Cup earlier this season.
The 38-year-old Parker, no stranger to the World Cup Finals after six previous visits, made it to the final round with a head-start of four points after shooting an 1,171. He would manage his advantage right to the last shot. Scoring 95.5 points during the final, Parker finished on the highest step of the podium with an overall score of 1266.5 points.
“Entering the final with such an advantage made me a bit nervous. I need a bit of pressure, to do well in finals.” Parker added. “”I have been competing in World Cup Finals since 1998, and dreaming of a gold medal since then. It’s finally around my neck, and it feels great!”
“I will now use the winter break to test some new materials, and to get ready for the next ISSF World Cup Season.” Parker concluded.
Three points behind him, Korea’s Han Jinseop pocketed the silver medal with an overall score of 1263.5 points. Making it to the final with 1166, Han overtook Norway’s Ole Kristian Bryhn to finish on the second step of the podium with a final score of 97.5 points. Bryhn landed in third, securing the Bronze medal with a total score of 1263.0 (1167+96.0) points.
To view the final results, please click here.
Parker’s Olympic and USAMU teammate Eric Uptagrafft (Phenix City, Ala.) placed fourth in the World Cup Final Wednesday in the Men’s Prone Rifle event. The Sergeant 1st Class shot a 595 in qualifying and a 103.5 final. He finished .6 points away from second place.
Starting from the London Prepares World Cup in April and then passing through Milan and Munich, this year’s ISSF World Cup Series comes to an end in Bangkok, a city that has already hosted several ISSF events in the past. Only the sport’s top performers are invited to compete in the World Cup Finals and 90 shooters coming from 34 countries are set to head to the firing lines including 2012 Olympic champions, Olympic medalists, 2012 World Cup title defenders and the best athletes selected throughout this year’s ISSF World Cup Series.
USAMU soldiers took two golds, a silver and a fourth-place for the unit in the 2012 World Cup Finals in rifle, pistol and shotgun. Josh Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.) earned the gold medal in Men’s Double Trap while Vincent Hancock (Eatonton, Ga.) shot his way to a silver medal in Men’s Skeet.
In all, USA Shooting athletes earned four medals overall and six top-five finishes in ISSF World Cup finals with Brandy Drozd (Bryan, Texas) earning her first World Cup medal in an overseas competition after picking up the silver medal in Women’s Skeet. Caitlin Connor (Winnfield, La.) just missed the podium after a three-person shoot-off to finish fourth. Kayle Browning (Wooster, Ark.) finished sixth Women’s Trap followed by 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Corey Cogdell (Eagle River, Alaska) in ninth place.
Three additional USA Shooting athletes were invited but declined to participate including Olympic gold medalist Jamie Gray (Lebanon, Pa.), bronze medalist Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.) and Olympian Michael McPhail (USAMU/Darlington, Wis.).
