Alaska Nanooks shooter is 10th at Junior Olympic championships

Post date: Apr 11, 2011 12:03:36 AM

by Staff Report / sports@newsminer.com Fairbanks Daily News Miner

Apr 09, 2011

FAIRBANKS — Alaska Nanooks shooter Michael Liuzza placed 10th in men’s air rifle earlier this week and was holding the same place during the weekend in the three-position event during the USA Shooting Junior Olympic National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The freshman from New Orleans finished the air rifle with a 1,165 total. He improved from a 16th-place score of 579 on Wednesday to a 586 on Thursday to assure him of 10th place.

Nanooks sophomore teammate Cole Bures from Odell, Neb., compiled a 1,158 effort for 13th place after recording a 33rd-place score of 574 on Wednesday and climbing to a 584 on Thursday.

Nanooks freshman Ryan Dunham-Bender posted a 17th-place total of 1,155, starting Wednesday with a 577 for 23rd and ending Thursday with a 578.

Robert Williams, a West Valley High School senior, finished in 34th place at 1,142, aided by a 566 on Wednesday and a 576 on the second day.

Nanooks redshirt freshman Donald Hannon from Delta Junction fired a 1,131 total for 53rd place after recording a 561 for 67th place on Wednesday and a 570 on Thursday.

Anchorage’s Jason Cusack finished 87th with 1,104 after earning scores of 551 on Wednesday for 90th and 553 on Thursday.

The three-position shooting started Friday, continued Saturday and ends today. The 75 entries are firing 60 shots prone, 40 shots standing and 40 shots kneeling.

Their 60 shots of prone counts as a prone match, but the first 40 shots of prone go toward their total match count.

Liuzza was sitting in 10th place Saturday after finishing with a 2,293 combined total for both relays of the three-position competition. He finished with a 1,143 on Friday and a 1,150 score Saturday.

The final places of all the shooters won’t be determined until today after all the participants have completed their relays.

Bures had a two-day combined total of 2,286 after respective outcomes of 1,143 and 1,139.

First-relay scores only were available Saturday for Bender (1,134), Hannan (1,129) and Williams (1,110).

Cusack didn’t compete in three-position.

The Junior Olympics resume Wednesday with men’s pistol shooting and only one Alaskan is competing. Shawn Kelley of Anchorage is entered in air pistol, taking place Wednesday and Thursday.

Contact the News-Miner sports department at 459-7581.