Athabasca had a strong showing during the 2017 Canadian 3D Archery Championships in Lac La Biche April 15-16.
Local sharp shooters Colton Gustafson and Ryan LeMessurier from the Lakeland Archery Club competed against over 100 competitors from across the country, each finishing in the top 50.
Gustafson had the strongest finish placing seventh overall in the men’s Compound Unlimited category and second in the Grand Prix, while his club teammate LeMessurier finished 50th in the country.
“It’s always challenging you and the competition is always getting better and better. It’s a very competitive class,” Gustafson said. “Every time you go its always interesting to see how you match up against the best in Canada.”
Gustafson shooting an 833 after three rounds placed him in the top eight advancing him to an elimination shoot-off for the final event.
Making it to the final two, his last shot was through a waterfall to hit his final 3D target resembling a large dinosaur. Gustafson, shooting second, did not look at where his opponent placed his shot just moments before as to not psyche himself out.
Confidant in remembering the distance from him and the target, Gustafson drew back his bow and what followed next was three sounds; the snap of his bowstring, the sudden crack of the arrow hitting the target and disheartening sigh from the crowd.
Right there, Gustafson knew he finished just shy of first place in the indoor 3D nationals championship’s Grand Prix.
“I didn’t even look at his arrow because I didn’t want to know were he hit weather it was good or bad,” he said. “I walked up. I had that yardage in my head. I was just confident in that yardage and I didn’t second guess it. I ended up being four yards shy.”
Gustafson said competing in the Grand Prix was much different feeling then competing in the regular rounds. He noted it’s much less stressful shooting alongside 20 archers at the same time then shooting individually.
“You just get in the zone and you roll through,” he said. “You’re shooting targets, talking to the other guys, it’s smooth sailing. But, when you get into that grand prix situation – that shoot-off style – when you get out there it’s just a huge adrenaline rush. I don’t know if I would call it nervousness, but you’re jittery the whole time.”
“Colton did good,” sais LeMessurier who was watching him during the Grand Prix. “He shot solid all weekend.”
This was LeMessurier’s third time competing at nationals, noting it was not his best finish. With a total score of 806, he said a few too many misread shots ending up costing him in the long run.
“The competition was pretty stiff,” he said. “ I shot decent, but there’s just some good competition. I shot a couple bulls eyes, but I had a couple poorly judged shots distance wise. It kind of hurt me in the end.”
