Guatemala City, Guatemala – The final day of competition at the 2024 Grand Prix of the Americas delivered a rewarding conclusion for archers across the continent, as athletes from North, Central, and South America secured a diverse array of medals in recurve and compound disciplines. Hosted at the Estadio Militar’s archery range from April 18–21, the tournament served as a key preparatory event ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers and Pan American Championships later this year.
Over four days of intense competition, more than 120 archers representing 18 nations vied for podium spots in individual, team, and mixed team events. The United States led the medal table with eight total medals — three gold, three silver, and two bronze — followed closely by Mexico with six medals (two gold, two silver, two bronze) and Colombia with five (one gold, three silver, one bronze). Guatemala, as host nation, earned two bronze medals in men’s compound individual and women’s recurve team events, marking its best performance at the Grand Prix since 2019.
“This was a solid showing for our team, especially with several young athletes stepping up under pressure,” said Brady Ellison, three-time Olympic medalist and member of the U.S. Recurve squad, after helping secure gold in the men’s team event. “We came in with specific goals — refining our timing in mixed team matches and building consistency at 70 meters — and we executed well across the board.”
In individual recurve, Argentina’s José Álvarez captured the men’s title with a 6–2 victory over Colombia’s Daniel Pineda in the gold medal match, recovering from an early 2–0 deficit with three consecutive 3-point ends. Álvarez, ranked 47th globally by World Archery, credited his adjustment to wind drift on the final day for the turnaround. “The range here swirls unpredictably in the afternoon,” he noted. “I had to trust my sight settings and let the shot happen, rather than force it.”
On the women’s side, Mexico’s Alejandra Valencia continued her dominant form, winning her second consecutive Grand Prix of the Americas title by defeating Ecuador’s Adriana Martínez 6–4 in the final. Valencia, a Tokyo 2020 Olympian and current Pan American champion, now holds three career medals at this event. “I felt the pressure early — Martínez was shooting exceptionally clean in the first half,” Valencia said. “But I stuck to my routine, focused on execution, and let the experience carry me through.”
Compound action delivered equally compelling narratives. Colombia’s Sara López, a seven-time World Cup Final champion, added another accolade to her resume by winning the women’s individual compound title, defeating Mexico’s Andrea Becerra 146–144 in a tense final. López, who has medaled in every edition of this tournament since 2015, highlighted the importance of mental reset after a shaky start. “I opened with a 9 and a 10 — not ideal,” she admitted. “But I reminded myself: one arrow at a time. That mindset got me back in it.”
In men’s compound, El Salvador’s Roberto Hernández earned his first international individual medal, a bronze, after defeating Guatemala’s Julio Barillas in the bronze medal match. Hernández, 22, had never advanced past the quarterfinals in a World Archery-sanctioned event prior to this weekend. “I’ve been working on my release consistency with my coach back home,” he said. “To see it pay off here, in front of a home crowd for Guatemala — it means a lot.”
Team events underscored the depth of talent across the region. The United States swept both recurve team gold medals, with the women’s trio of Casey Kaufhold, Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez, and Gabrielle Thomas defeating Mexico 6–2 in the final. Kaufhold, who won individual silver earlier in the weekend, described the team dynamic as a key factor. “We’ve been training together since January,” she said. “Knowing each other’s rhythms — especially in wind — made the difference.”
Mexico’s men’s compound team claimed gold by defeating Colombia 230–226, avenging a pool-stage loss to the same squad. The victory was sealed by a perfect 10 from veteran Miguel Becerra in the final end. “We knew they were strong,” Becerra said afterward. “But we similarly knew we had the experience to handle the pressure. That last arrow? That’s years of work.”
Mixed team competitions provided some of the most dramatic moments. In recurve, the United States’ Casey Kaufhold and Brady Ellison edged out Colombia’s María Gabriela González and Daniel Pineda 5–4 in a shoot-off after tying 156–156. Ellison, drawing on his Olympic experience, called the sequence “a test of nerves.” “When it’s tied like that, you’re not just shooting for points — you’re shooting for composure,” he said. “Casey was ice-cold. That’s what won it.”
Colombia took gold in mixed team compound, with López and Daniel Muñoz defeating Mexico’s Andrea Becerra and Miguel Becerra 158–156. The match featured three lead changes in the final four ends, culminating in Muñoz’s clutch 10 to seal the win. “We’ve competed against each other for years,” López said of facing her longtime rivals. “But today, we trusted our process — and it delivered.”
Beyond the medals, the event served as a critical evaluation point for national federations preparing for the upcoming Pan American Games qualification events. World Archery Americas confirmed that results from this Grand Prix will influence seeding and funding allocations for member associations through the end of 2024. “Performance here doesn’t just reflect current form — it helps shape future support,” said Mario Scarzella, President of World Archery Americas, during the closing ceremony. “We saw growth, resilience, and high-level execution across the board.”
Attendance remained steady throughout the weekend, with local school groups and archery clubs filling the stands during afternoon sessions. Organizers noted a 15% increase in youth participation compared to the 2023 edition, attributed to expanded outreach programs in partnership with the Guatemalan Olympic Committee. “We want to inspire the next generation,” said Sofia Morales, event director. “Seeing kids try their first arrows after watching world-class competition — that’s the real win.”
Looking ahead, many of these archers will shift focus to the Asian leg of the World Cup circuit in May, followed by the final Olympic qualifying tournament in Antalya, Turkey, in June. For Latin American athletes, the path to Paris 2024 runs through the Pan American Qualifiers in Medellín, Colombia, later this month — where the top two individuals per gender and team events will earn quota spots.
As the tents were packed and the targets dismantled, the consensus among athletes and coaches was clear: the Grand Prix of the Americas continues to grow in stature as a premier regional competition. With improved infrastructure, stronger fields, and rising youth engagement, the tournament is solidifying its role not just as a medal opportunity, but as a developmental cornerstone for archery in the Western Hemisphere.
The next major event on the continental calendar is the Pan American Archery Championships, scheduled for May 15–19 in Medellín, Colombia. Archers will look to build on this weekend’s momentum as they pursue continental titles and Olympic qualification pathways.
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