Solvang’s Ashley Carroll became the first American in 20 years to win a gold medal at the World Championships in women’s trap shooting, capturing the title on Wednesday in Lonato del Garda, Italy.
Carroll, 25, edged China’s Xiaojing Wang in the finals by one shot, hitting 42 out of 50 targets.
Her best prior finish at the World Championships was sixth in 2017. She placed 14th at last year’s World Championships in South Korea.
She qualified second for this year’s event, however, and led the final round of six competitors from the start. She was the last shooter to miss, starting 9-for-9. She missed only twice in her first 25 shots.
After Spain’s Fatima Galvez dropped out to claim the bronze medal, Carroll and Wang were in a tie while facing the final 10 targets, having each made 34 out of 40 shots.
Wang took the lead when Carroll missed on her 42nd shot. Two shots later, however, Wang missed three of her next four targets, and Carroll surged back ahead for good. The Solvang resident hit eight of her last 10 targets to claim the World Championship.
Carroll was taught to shoot by her father, Charlie, and began entering competitions at age 8. She also played volleyball at Santa Ynez High before continuing on to attend the University of Colorado.
She set the stage for her World Championship by winning a bronze medal at this year’s World Cup, securing the U.S. a quota spot for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. She also captured two World Cup silvers in trap mixed team.
She is the first U.S. woman to earn a World Championship medal, as well as a world title, since Cindy Gentry in 1999. It’s also the first Trap medal for Team USA at a World Championship, men’s or women’s, since Bret Erickson earned the bronze in 2006.
TENNIS
OPEN DEADLINE IS TODAY
Today at noon is the deadline to register for the 83rd Santa Barbara Open. The event begins this weekend and concludes with the finals on July 13.
The New FAST4 format will be used in the 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 men’s and women’s doubles, which will be played on Saturday, and in the 7.0, 8.0, and 9.0 mixed doubles, which will be held on Sunday. The format features four-point games and four-game sets in a round-robin format.
The open division and all other NTRP divisions will be played in the traditional format. Prize money is being offered in the open divisions.
To register online, go to sbtennispatrons.com.
