Today the 2008 games start in Beijing, China.  Team USA has a good number of participants in the shooitng sports. 

     My website will have a link to all the results of the Olympic shooting games,  it is at www.upnorthjournal.com .  The games will kick off on Saturday with the women’s 10m air rifle competition.  That will be followed up with the men’s trap competition and the men’s 10m air pistol.

     The women’s air rifle competition will be the first event that will award medals for the shooting sports.  Team USA will be represented by Emile Caruso from Connecticut, a four time National Air Rifle Shooting Champion and Jamie Beyerle from Pennsylvania and won the Silver Medal for the 2008 World Cup in Milan.

     The next event will be the Men’s Trap (the first 75 targets) which will be lead by Bret Erickson of Nebraska, a Silver Medalist in the 2008 World Cup Shul and the Bronze Medalist in the 2008 Beijing World Cup test event.  Also leading Team USA is Dominic Grazioli of Texas, a 2001 Gold Medal winner in the World Cup in Brazil, and Silver Medalist in the 2001 World Cup in Korea.  The event will finish on Sunday with the last 50 targets.

     The Men’s 10m pistol qualifying will be held on Saturday and leading the charge for Team USA will be Jason Turner of New York and Brian Beaman of South Dakota.  Jason was a 2007 National Champion and Pan American Champion for the air and free pistol.  Brian took 2nd place in the 2007 National Championships for air pistol.

     Be sure to check my website for daily updates and go red, white, and blue.  Go Team USA!!!!!