The Australian Shotgun Team have begun their ISSF World Championships campaign with a blistering start claiming the gold and bronze medals in the Junior Trap Women’s Final, the first event of the competition.
Junior Australian Trap shooters Kiara Dean and Breanna Collins claimed the gold and bronze medals respectively after a strong qualification which saw Kiara place 3rd and Breanna place 5th before going on to score 21/25 and 20/25 in the semi final respectively to qualify for the medal match. In the medal match, Breanna Collins scored 19/25 to win the bronze medal for Australia, with Kiara Dean and Ting Han of China being tied at 30/35 each entering a shoot off where Kiara came away with the gold for Australia.
Speaking on becoming the Junior World Champion, Dean said “It was incredible, it went really really fast. I was in a completely different zone to what I usually am. I started a little bit weak, and then I sort of hit another gear and focused in and it finished really well. The shoot off at the end was pretty crazy”
Collins was participating at her first ISSF competition internationally and claimed the bronze medal, adding “I’m mind blown i guess, I exceeded my expectations, I came here just to have a good time and do the best I can and I never really expected this to be the outcome and I still can’t quite believe it.”
The final also showed how strong the bond is between the Australian Team with Collins saying this about Dean’s shoot off for gold “I think i was more nervous than her. I was shaking and I was breathing really hard and I was praying. I was so relieved and I cried I was so happy when she won”
On being on the podium with another Australian, Dean said “To be (on the podium), with not just another Australian but with Breanna, she’s one of my best friends, we’re roommates. To be in both finals side by side for both of them, it was incredible, and to be standing there together both accepting a medal, it just tips it off.”
Kiara and Breanna’s medal wins gets the Australian Shotgun Team off to an incredible start as they look to claim more medals at the World Championships. Following the medal win, Kiara and Breanna will compete in the Junior Trap Mixed Team event on Friday as Kiara teams up with Marco Corbo and Breanna teams up with William Freni-Lizzi. The medal winners then close out their World Championships campaign in the Junior Trap Team Women event on Saturday with fellow Aussie Molly Bretag.
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