Beyerle takes gold at Pan American Games

Submitted by Jamie Schanback
Phone: (907) 474-6807
07/23/07

RIO, Brazil -- Former Alaska Nanook shooter and All-American Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, PA) shot a 679.8 in the women’s 50 meter three position finals Saturday to capture a gold medal for Team USA by two tenths of a point at the 2007 Pan American Games being held in Rio, Brazil.

The former NCAA Champion narrowly defeated Cruz Farfan of Cuba who finished the match finals with a 679.6. Team USA placed two medalists on the podium as Beyerle’s teammate Amanda Furrer came away with the bronze after posting a final score of 675.5.

Beyerle is the second former Alaska rifle shooter to earn a medal at this year’s games, following recent graduate Matt Rawlings (Wharton, TX) who took home a silver medal in the men’s 10 meter air rifle last week.

Beyerle’s win, combined with Vincent Hancock’s triumph in the men’s skeet, left the U.S. with 10 gold medals and 22 total medals to show for its efforts in the weeklong shooting competition.

Unlike some Pan Am gold medalists, Beyerle’s win did not automatically qualify her for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

The games, which began on July 13, will wrap up next Sunday, July 29. For complete event and result information, please visit the Pan American Games website.