Archery World 3D Championship Opens in Yankton Following Field Finale
Archery athletes from 25 countries gathered in Yankton to begin competition at the World Archery 3D Championship. The event follows the conclusion of the World Field Archery Championships at the same venue, where Spain secured a bronze medal in the women’s team event through competitors Ana Cano, Iria de la Fuente, and María Pitarch.
Volumetric Animal Targets and Distance Estimation Challenges
Unlike field events, the 3D discipline utilizes volumetric targets shaped as animals set at unknown distances from the shooting line. Competitors must rely on sharp distance-estimation skills alongside precise technical execution to score effectively across the course. A total of 231 athletes are registered to compete across eight individual categories and six team divisions at the Yankton venue.
International Field and Schedule Highlights
Several international figures feature in the Yankton lineup. Italian archer Irene Franchini competes in compound archery, while Denmark’s Oliver Øchkenholt and Italy’s Cinzia Noziglia headline the barebow divisions. In traditional archery, Italy’s Sabrina Vannini leads the field alongside longbow competitors Ian Edwards of Great Britain and Cecilia Santacroce of Italy.
Competition opened on Tuesday, September 29, with the first 24-target qualification circuit involving two arrows per target. Action continues Wednesday, September 30, with the second qualification circuit followed by individual elimination rounds for compound, traditional, and men’s barebow divisions. Traditional and longbow individual elimination matches are scheduled for Thursday, October 1.
Spanish National Team Roster and Recent Precedents
The Spanish delegation enters the 3D World Championship carrying momentum from recent international circuits. At the 2024 World 3D Championship in Mokrice, Slovenia, Spanish representatives collected four medals, including two golds and two silvers. Team RFETA also secured three gold medals and one silver at the European 3D Championship in Divčibare, Serbia.
The selected Spanish roster for the Yankton 3D competition features:
- Barebow: Ana María Cano, César Vera
- Traditional Archery: Aía Palacio, Joaquín López
- Longbow: Encarna Garrido, Iván Vázquez
- Compound Archery: María Pitarch, José Manuel Prieto
- Coaching Staff: Rubén Montes, Jairo Valentín Fernández
Athletes competing in barebow and compound divisions transitioned directly from the preceding World Field Championships in Yankton, which concluded earlier in the week with the Spanish women’s team podium finish against Germany.
