Erika Jones (Anschutz)
Anschutz Wins Archery World Cup Finals and The Longines Prize For Precision
Erika Anschutz of Hamilton, Ohio won the gold medal in the women's compound bow division of competition at the 2011 Archery World Cup Finals held in Istanbul, Turkey during September 24-25. She was also awarded the prestigious Longines Prize for Precision for shooting the highest number of tens of any competitor throughout the course of this year's World Cup tour series. Winning the Finals in Turkey was the crowning achievement of Erika's second year of World Cup competition during which time she won a total of five medals in individual and team events including three gold and two silver medals. She was the individual bronze medalist in the 2010 Archery World Cup Finals held in Edinburgh, Great Britain. As a result of Erika's past outstanding performances in international competition, she has continued to be recognized by World Archery as the top ranked female compound bow target archer in the world since early this year. Due to her recent accomplishments, World Archery named Erika the "Athlete of the Week."
The Archery World Cup features the best target archers from around the world who compete in four qualifying stages to earn ranking points. As a result of that process, the top eight ranked athletes in each of four divisions (inclusive of men / women's compound and recurve bow) were eligible to compete at the Finals event in Turkey. The Archery World Cup, which started in 2006, has been a popular event for athletes, sponsors, media, and fans. It has grown into one of the annual premiere events of international target archery that attracts approximately 300 athletes from 30 countries to compete at each of the qualifying stages. The top 32 archers who qualified for the Finals event this year represented 15 countries.
In addition, each year of the World Cup series the two most accurate male and female target archers in the world are awarded the Longines Prize for Precision which consists of a trophy, a Longines precision-made watch, and 5,000 Swiss Francs. The compound bow athletes compete for the Prize during odd numbered years while recurve bow archers compete for it in even years. The Prize is awarded to each male and female archer who scores the most tens during the individual qualifications and elimination matches (1/16 round through finals) throughout all four stages and the final event of the Archery World Cup series. Thus, during 2011, compound bow archers were eligible to compete for the Prize.
The first stage of the 2011 Archery World Cup series was held May 2-7 in Porec, Croatia where Erika was the gold medalist in the individual competition. During the second stage in Antalya, Turkey held June 6-11, she suffered an upset loss in the 1/16 individual elimination round match and did not advance for further competition at that event. The third stage was hosted by the United States in Ogden, Utah during August 1-6 where Erika won a silver medal in the individual competition and a gold medal in the team event. Erika then traveled to Shanghai, China for the fourth stage that was held September 5-10 where she repeated as the individual silver medalist.
Based on Erika's outstanding performance in the four qualifying stages of the 2011 Archery World Cup series, she was ranked first in her division of competition going into the Finals event. Six of the other seven elite women compound bow archers who qualified to compete in the Finals included: Laura Longo (Italy); Mahtab Parsameher (Iran); Marcella Tonioli (Italy); Albina Loginova (Russia); Christie Colin (United States); and Seyedeh-Vida Halimianavval (Iran). Under Archery World Cup rules, the country hosting the Finals event is allowed to name an eighth competitor to each division of competition. Thus, Turkey added Gizem Kocaman to the final group of women compound bow archers.
In addition, as a result of Erika's remarkable performances in the qualifying stages of this year's World Cup series, she was ranked second among all international women compound bow contenders for the Longines Prize for Precision. Going into the Finals event in Turkey, Erika trailed behind Italy's Laura Longo by the narrow margin of only one ten (276-275). Longo who was seeded second in the Finals is also ranked fourth in the world among female compound bow target archers.
The scenic setting for the venue of the 2011 Archery World Cup Finals was located on the grounds of the Kucuksu Palace in Istanbul at the place where East meets West along the shoreline of the Bosphorus Strait that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Located across the Strait from the site of the venue is the Rumeli Castle with the impressive Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge extending high over the expansive waterway in the background.
During the Finals, the eight archers in each division are assigned to tournament bracket pairings for match play based on the rankings they achieved during individual competition throughout the preceding four stages of the World Cup series. For each match, the paired archers shoot five, three-arrow ends at an 80-centimeter, multi-colored target face from a distance of 50 meters (54.67 yards) for a total possible 150 points. The 10-ring on the target face measures 8 centimeters (3.15 inches) in diameter. In the Finals, the archers alternate shooting their three arrows during an end and are allowed only 20 seconds to execute each of their shots. A tied match score is resolved via a sudden death one-arrow shoot-off. The archer who shoots their arrow closest to the center of the target is declared the winner.
In the quarterfinal round match, Erika was paired with the eighth seeded Gizem Kocaman of Turkey. This was the second time the two archers had shot a match against one another. Their first bout together occurred earlier this year in the 1/24 round of the World Cup – Stage 2 event held in Antalya, Turkey where Erika easily won that contest (145-133). However, during this second meeting between the two archers, the very partisan crowd of Turkish spectators provided even more raucous support in favor of Kocaman who in turn converted that energy to outscore Erika by one point through the first two ends of the match. Undaunted by her Turkish opponent's improved performance, Erika continued to shoot well in the third end while Kocaman was unable to maintain the pace and fell behind by two points in the contest. In each of the remaining two ends of the match, Erika repeatedly extended her lead until ultimately prevailing 143-135 to advance to the semifinals.
The semifinal round match pitted Erika opposite of Italy's Marcella Tonioli who was the fourth seed in the Finals and also ranked fifth in the world. This was the third time for the two archers to square off against one another in match play on the world stage. The first such occurrence was earlier this year at the World Outdoor Target Archery Championships in Torino, Italy where Erika defeated her Italian opponent (147-142) in a quarterfinal round match before advancing to eventually win the individual bronze medal. Their second bout occurred a little later on in the year when they met in the gold medal match of the World Cup – Stage 3 event in Ogden, Utah where Tonioli narrowly won the contest in a one arrow shoot-off following a tied match score (139-139). Thus, Erika was in a position to avenge the earlier loss to the Italian by defeating her in this semifinal round match at the Finals in Istanbul. Erika's first three shots of the match scored 26 points while Tonioli managed to score one point better to take an early lead in the match. Despite windy conditions, Erika was able to fight back in the next two ends by shooting six consecutive tens to take a three-point lead over her opponent with six arrows remaining to be shot in the contest. During the fourth end, Erika bested Tonioli by another three points to establish a commanding lead of six points with three arrows remaining to be shot in the match. In the final end, Tonioli shot perfectly scoring three tens in a valiant come-back effort, but it was too little too late to make a difference in the final outcome (143-139) that allowed Erika to advance to final round of the Finals competition.
For the gold medal match, Erika came to the shooting line against fellow U.S. Archery Team member and friend Christie Colin, the latter of whom was seeded sixth in the Finals and ranked tenth in the world. Both archers started the match strong by shooting tens with their first arrows despite the continuance of variable, gusty winds. The second volley of arrows in the match resulted in Erika scoring a nine as Colin apparently fell victim to the unfavorable weather conditions with an errant shot to the six-ring of her target. Erika then managed to shoot another ten for her last shot of the first end while Colin could only muster a nine, thus giving Erika an early four-point advantage in the duel. That same margin of difference in the contest was maintained after the second end of arrows had been shot. In the third end, Erika was able to gain another point on Colin to extend her lead by five points. During the fourth end, Erika showed no mercy as she continued to increase her lead by shooting all three of her arrows into the ten-ring while Colin scored only 29 points. With a six-point lead and three arrows remaining to be shot in the match, Erika proceeded to score two more tens before succumbing to the ill-effects of the wind on her final shot that landed in the seven-ring. Meanwhile, Colin fared better with her final three shots that scored another 29 points, but it was not enough to make-up the margin of difference in Erika's favor for the gold medal (142-138).
In the consolation match for the bronze medal, Tonioli faced Iran's Seyedeh-Vida Halimianavval, the latter of whom was seeded seventh in the Finals and eleventh in world ranking. The two archers engaged in an exciting shoot-out that was not decided until the last arrow was shot in the contest by Tonioli that allowed her to win by a mere one point (136-135).
The competition for the 2011 Longines Prize for Precision was decided during the quarterfinal round of the Finals when the leading contender for the award, Longo of Italy, was defeated by the Iranian Halimianavval after a one-arrow shoot-off to resolve a tied match score (139-139). Meanwhile, Erika won her quarterfinal match and eventually the gold medal match too. As a result, Erika was able to ultimately claim the Prize by scoring more tens during the course of the World Cup series than her closest competitor, Longo (304-282). Fellow U.S. Archery Team member, Rodger Willett, Jr. was the male compound bow archer recipient of the Prize for 2011.
For more information about how Erika and the other U.S. Archery Team members performed at the Archery World Cup Finals, go to the USA Archery website at http://www.usarchery.org/.
Erika Anschutz of Hamilton, Ohio began shooting a bow at the age of six, and was competing in archery tournaments by the time she was seven years-old in 1996. Since that time, she has compiled an amazing record while winning numerous state and regional championships, along with a total of 41 national championships in indoor, outdoor, and 3-D competition. Beginning in 2002, Erika has been a member of two Collegiate, four Senior, and five Junior U.S. World Archery Teams that have successfully competed in World Target Archery Championships. She has had the privilege of traveling to, and competing in, such countries as the Czech Republic, France, England, Denmark, Spain, Mexico, Germany, Taiwan, Poland, Serbia, and South Korea. While competing internationally, Erika has distinguished herself as being among the world's best archers by winning a total of 17 world titles in individual and team events, including six gold medals, four silver medals, and seven bronze medals. In addition to her stellar list of archery championship titles, she has also established an impressive total of 161 national record scores, including 21 world records in indoor and outdoor competition. Learn about Erika's archery equipment.
Included among Erika's notable archery accomplishments is the distinction of being recognized as one of the top-ranked members of the National Archery Association's Junior and Senior U.S. Archery Teams for nine consecutive years, and also one of the top-ranked members of the U.S. Collegiate All-American and All-Academic Archery Teams during the past three years. Since 2005, when she was 16-years-old, Erika has been a Pro Staff shooter for both Hoyt and Easton, and a member of the National Field Archery Association's (NFAA) Pro Division. She has been one of the top-ranked professional female archers in the nation since that time and won the NFAA Pro Female Shooter of the Year Award for 2009.
Early in 2009, Erika was elected by a group of her peers from across the nation to serve on the USA Archery Athletes Advisory Council which, in turn, elected her to serve as the Compound Athlete Representative to the USA Archery Board of Directors. In May 2009, she received a $500 academic scholarship from the U.S. Collegiate Archery Program via a grant by the Easton Sports Development Foundation (ESDF). One month later, Erika was further honored as the recipient of a $5,000 academic scholarship funded by the NFAA Foundation and ESDF.
In addition to archery, Erika enjoys working out, listening to music, playing card games such as Texas Hold ‘Em, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves watching and keeping up with everything related to college football (especially the Nebraska Huskers) and such reality television shows as "American Idol" and "The Bachelor / Bachelorette." Erika will be a senior during the 2009 / 2010 school year at the University of Nebraska where she is majoring in Psychology. After earning her Bachelors degree, Erika plans to attend graduate school and study toward a Masters degree.
Erika’s sponsors include: Alpen Outdoor Products, BCY Inc., Carter Enterprises, Easton, Field Logic, Hoyt, Leven Industries, Nealy’s Custom Bowstrings, Inc., Premier Archery (Lincoln, NE) Sims Vibration Laboratory, Inc., Specialty Archery L.L.C., Spot-Hogg, and Sure-Loc Archery Products.
Tournaments:
FITA 10th World Indoor Archery Championship Gold Medalist (Team) and Bronze Medalist (Individual) - 2009
FITA 45th World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Bronze Medalist (Team) - 2009
FITA 44th World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Bronze Medalist (Team) - 2007
FITA IX Junior World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Bronze Medalist (Individual) - 2006
FITA 43rd World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Silver Medalist (Team) - 2005
FITA VIII Junior World Indoor Archery Championship Silver Medalist (Individual) - 2005
FITA VIII Junior World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Bronze Medalist (Individual) & Gold Medalist (Team) - 2004
FITA VII Junior World Indoor Archery Championship Silver Medalist (Individual) & Gold Medalist (Team) - 2003
FITA VII Junior World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Gold Medalist (Individual) - 2002
25th World University Games Silver Medalist (Mixed Team) and Bronze Medalist (Individual) - 2009
FISU VII World University Archery Championship Gold Medalist (Individual) - 2008
FISU VII World University Archery Championship Gold Medalist (Mixed Team) - 2008
FISU VII World University Archery Championship Bronze Medalist (Team) - 2008
COPANARCO Multi-Site Indoor Championship of the Americas Champion (Western Hemisphere) - 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004
U.S. Senior World Outdoor Target Archery Team Trials Champion - 2009
U.S. Collegiate World Outdoor Target Archery Team Trials Champion - 2009
U.S. Junior World Outdoor Target Archery Team Trials Champion - 2002 and 2006
U.S. Junior World Indoor Archery Team Trials Champion - 2003
NAA National Indoor Champion - 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007
NAA National Outdoor Target Champion - 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006
NAA Collegiate National Indoor Champion - 2007 and 2009
NAA Collegiate National Outdoor Champion - 2009
NAA JOAD National Indoor Champion - 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006
NAA JOAD National Outdoor Target Champion - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004
NFAA National Indoor Champion - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007
NFAA National Outdoor Champion - 1998 and 1999
NFAA National 3-D Champion - 1999
NFAA National Marked 3-D Champion - 2009
NFAA World Archery Festival Champion - 2003
NFAA Midwest Sectional Indoor Champion - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2007
NFAA Midwest Sectional Outdoor Champion - 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2006
NFAA Southeast Sectional Outdoor Champion - 2008
NFAA Midwest Sectional 3-D Champion - 1999
NFAA Nebraska State Indoor Champion - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, and 2007
NFAA Nebraska State Indoor Target Champion - 2005
NFAA Nebraska State Outdoor Champion - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2006
NFAA Nebraska State Target Champion - 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2000
NFAA Nebraska State 3-D Champion - 1999 and 2001
Kansas City Shoot out Champion - 2005 and 2006
Texas Shoot out Champion - 2004 and 2009
Big Sky Open (Grand Junction, CO) Champion - 2006
Stanislawski Open Champion - 2007
U.S. Open Champion - 2007
Gold Cup Champion - 2008
ISAA Pro-Am Champion - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2009
Presley’s Midwest Open Champion - 2008
World Records:
Cadet Compound: 2002 (Outdoor) - 70m-338; 60m-344/tie; 12-arrow Finals Match-117; and 36-arrow Finals Total-338/tie. 2003 (Indoor) - 2x18m-573 and 583; 12-arrow Finals Match-116; and 36-arrow Finals Total-343; 2003 (Outdoor) - 12-arrow Finals Match-117/tie; and 36-arrow Finals Total-338/tie; 2004 (Indoor) - 2x18m-586; and 2004 (Outdoor) - 72-arrow (70m) Qualifying Round - 663/tie; 60m - 349; 50m (122cm face) - 351; 40m (80cm face) - 340/tie; 144-arrow FITA Round (60-30m) - 1,386; 50m (122cm face) - 356; 40m (80cm face) - 351; 30m (80cm face) - 359; and 144-arrow FITA Round (60-30m) - 1,409
Junior Compound: 2004 (Outdoor) - 144-arrow FITA Round - 1,385 and 2x27-arrow Team Finals Total - 494; and 2006 (Indoor) - 2x18m - 593; (Outdoor) - 70m- 349; and 60m- 352
Senior Compound: 2006 (Indoor) - 2x18m - 593/tie; 2007 (Outdoor) - 3x144-arrow Team FITA Round - 4,157 and 24-arrow Team Finals Match - 232; and 2009 (Indoor) - 24-arrow Team Finals Match - 236
National Records:
NAA Indoor Star FITA Records (Cadet Compound - Single/Double FITA): 1999 - 569/1,133; 2002 - 576/1,152; 2003 - 583/1,166; 2004 - Single FITA 586; Junior Compound Double FITA: 1,160; and 2005 - Junior Compound: 587/1,167; and 2006 - Junior Compound: 593/1,180
NAA Outdoor Star FITA Records: 2000 (Cadet Compound) - 30m-358/716; 25m-359/717; 20m-358/715; 15m-360(28x)/720(54x); and Single/Double FITA-1,434/2,868; 2001 (Junior Compound) - 50m-353/696; 40m-358; 30m-703; and Single/Double FITA-1,421/2,813; 2002 (Cadet Compound) - 70m-338; 60m-344; and 12-arrow Finals Match-117; 2003 (Cadet Compound) - 30m-355/713; 60m Double-678; Single/Double FITA-1,370/2,715; 2004 (Cadet Compound) - 70m Double-663; 60m - 349/686; 50m (122cm face) - 356; 40m (80cm face) - 340 and 351; 30m - 359; and Single FITA (60-30m) - 1,386 and 1,409; (Junior Compound) - 60m Double-686; 50m Double-692; 30m 359/713; and Single/Double FITA - 1,385/2,763; 2006 (Junior Compound) - 70m- 349/681; 60m - 352/700; 30m - 360-24X/719; and Single/Double FITA - 1,397/2,783; and 2007 (Senior Compound) - 50m - 351/tie; 60m - 354/704; and Single FITA - 1,408
NAA National Indoor Championship Records (Cadet Compound - Single/Double FITA): 1999 - 569/1,133; 2002 - 576/1,152; 2003 - 583/1,166; 2004 Junior Compound Double FITA: 1,160; and 2006 - Junior Compound: 593/1,180
NAA National Outdoor Target Championship Records: 2000 (Cadet Compound) - 30m-358/716; 25m-359/717; 20m-358/715; 15m-360(28)/720(54); and Single/Double FITA - 1,434/2,868; 2001 (Junior Compound) - 50m-353/696; 40-m-358; 30m-352/703; and Single/Double FITA - 1,421/2,813; 2003 (Cadet Compound) - 30m Double-713; 50m-340/678; 60m 342/678; 70m-333; and Single/Double FITA - 1,370/2,715; 2004 (Cadet Compound) - 60m 344/686; and (Junior Compound) - 60m Double-686; 50m -346 (tie); 50m Double - 692; 30m 357/713; and Single/Double FITA - 1,382/2,763; 2006 (Junior Compound) - 70m - 343/681; 60m - 352/700; 30m - 360-24X/719; and Single/Double FITA - 1,396/2,783; and 2007 (Senior Compound) - 60m - 353- tie/704; 70m - 349/tie; and Single FITA - 1,403
NAA JOAD National Indoor Championship Records: 1999 (Cadet Compound - 579); 2001 (Junior Compound - 598); 2002 (Cadet Compound - 576); and 2004 (Cadet and Junior Compound - 586)
NAA JOAD National Outdoor Target Championship Records: 2000 (Cadet Compound) - 30m-353; 25m-356; 20m-356; 15m-359; and Single FITA - 1,424; 2001 (Junior Compound) - 50m-343; 40m-348; 30m-348; 20m-359; Single FITA - 1,398; and Olympic Round/12 arrows - 118; 2002 (Cadet Compound) - 60m-343; 70m-338; and Single FITA - 1,367; 2003 (Cadet Compound) - 30m-355; 50m-334; and 12-arrow Finals Match-117; 2004 (Cadet Compound) - 60m-349 and 30m-355; (Junior Compound) - 60m-349; 50m-342; 30m-355 and Single FITA - 1,385; and 2006 (Junior Compound) - 70m - 349; 50m - 347; 30m - 356; and Single FITA - 1,397
NFAA National Indoor Championship Records: 1999 (Cub Free style - 600-94x @ 20 yards); 2002 (Youth Free style - 600-107x); 2003 (Youth Styx - 600-111x); 2004 (Young Adult Styx - 600-116x); and 2006 (Pro Women Styx - 600-117x/tie)
NFAA National Outdoor Championship Records: 1999 (Cub Styx) - 1-day Field Round - 557; 2-day Field Round - 1,114; 2-day Hunter Round - 1,112; Animal Round - 560; and 5-day Aggregate - 2,786); 2007 (Pro Styx) - 1-day Hunter Round - 556; 2-day Hunter Round - 1,110; and 5-day Aggregate - 2,784/tie
Miscellaneous:
FITA World Ranking (Senior Women Compound Bow) - Ranked #14 as of September 2009
NAA National Ranking - 2000 (Cadet Compound - Ranked #1); 2001 (Junior Compound - Ranked #1); 2002 (Cadet Compound - Ranked #1); 2003 (Cadet Compound - Ranked #1); 2004 (Junior Compound - Ranked #1); 2005 (Junior Compound - Ranked #1); 2006 (Junior Compound - Ranked #1); 2007 (Senior Compound - Ranked #2); 2008 (Senior Compound - Ranked #2); and 2009 (Senior Compound - Ranked #2)
U.S. World Outdoor Archery Team (Senior Compound) - 2005, 2007, and 2009
U.S. World Indoor Archery Team (Senior Compound) - 2009
U.S. Collegiate World Outdoor Archery Team (Women’s Compound) - 2008 and 2009
U.S. Junior World Indoor Archery Team (Junior Compound) - 2003 and 2005
U.S. Junior World Outdoor Archery Team (Junior Compound) - 2004 and 2006
U.S. Junior World Outdoor Archery Team (Cadet Compound) - 2002
U.S. Collegiate All-American Archery Team (Women’s Compound) - 2008, 2009, and 2010
U.S. Collegiate All-Academic Archery Team (Women’s Compound) - 2009 and 2010
NAA Senior U.S. Archery Team (Senior Compound) - 2008, 2009, and 2010
NAA Junior U.S. Archery Team (Junior Compound) - 2005, 2006, and 2007
NAA Junior U.S. Archery Team (Cadet Compound) - 2002, 2003, and 2004
NAA JOAD Indoor Olympian Award - February 1999
NAA JOAD Indoor Silver Olympian Award - March 1999
NAA JOAD Indoor Gold Olympian Award - March 2001
NAA JOAD Outdoor Olympian Award - June 2001
NAA JOAD Outdoor Silver Olympian Award - May 2002
NAA JOAD Outdoor Gold Olympian Award - June 2002
NFAA Pro Female Shooter of the Year Award - 2009
NFAA Pro Points Ranking - 2006 (Second), 2007 (First), 2008 (Second)
NFAA Nebraska State Overall Champion - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001
Named "Outstanding Female Athlete" of the 1997 Cornhusker State Summer Games
Recipient of a $500 academic scholarship from CAP and the Easton Sports Development Foundation (ESDF) - May 2009
Recipient of a $5,000 academic scholarship from the NFAA Foundation and ESDF - June 2009
Elected to serve as a member of the USA Archery Athletes Advisory Council - 2009
Elected to serve as the Compound Bow Athlete Representative to the USA Archery Board of Directors - 2009
Hoyt Pro Staff member since September 2005
Easton Pro Staff member since November 2005
Erika Anschutz of Hamilton, Ohio won the gold medal in the women's compound bow division of competition at the 2011 Archery World Cup Finals held in Istanbul, Turkey during September 24-25. She was also awarded the prestigious Longines Prize for Precision for shooting the highest number of tens of any competitor throughout the course of this year's World Cup tour series. Winning the Finals in Turkey was the crowning achievement of Erika's second year of World Cup competition during which time she won a total of five medals in individual and team events including three gold and two silver medals. She was the individual bronze medalist in the 2010 Archery World Cup Finals held in Edinburgh, Great Britain. As a result of Erika's past outstanding performances in international competition, she has continued to be recognized by World Archery as the top ranked female compound bow target archer in the world since early this year. Due to her recent accomplishments, World Archery named Erika the "Athlete of the Week."
The Archery World Cup features the best target archers from around the world who compete in four qualifying stages to earn ranking points. As a result of that process, the top eight ranked athletes in each of four divisions (inclusive of men / women's compound and recurve bow) were eligible to compete at the Finals event in Turkey. The Archery World Cup, which started in 2006, has been a popular event for athletes, sponsors, media, and fans. It has grown into one of the annual premiere events of international target archery that attracts approximately 300 athletes from 30 countries to compete at each of the qualifying stages. The top 32 archers who qualified for the Finals event this year represented 15 countries.
In addition, each year of the World Cup series the two most accurate male and female target archers in the world are awarded the Longines Prize for Precision which consists of a trophy, a Longines precision-made watch, and 5,000 Swiss Francs. The compound bow athletes compete for the Prize during odd numbered years while recurve bow archers compete for it in even years. The Prize is awarded to each male and female archer who scores the most tens during the individual qualifications and elimination matches (1/16 round through finals) throughout all four stages and the final event of the Archery World Cup series. Thus, during 2011, compound bow archers were eligible to compete for the Prize.
The first stage of the 2011 Archery World Cup series was held May 2-7 in Porec, Croatia where Erika was the gold medalist in the individual competition. During the second stage in Antalya, Turkey held June 6-11, she suffered an upset loss in the 1/16 individual elimination round match and did not advance for further competition at that event. The third stage was hosted by the United States in Ogden, Utah during August 1-6 where Erika won a silver medal in the individual competition and a gold medal in the team event. Erika then traveled to Shanghai, China for the fourth stage that was held September 5-10 where she repeated as the individual silver medalist.
Based on Erika's outstanding performance in the four qualifying stages of the 2011 Archery World Cup series, she was ranked first in her division of competition going into the Finals event. Six of the other seven elite women compound bow archers who qualified to compete in the Finals included: Laura Longo (Italy); Mahtab Parsameher (Iran); Marcella Tonioli (Italy); Albina Loginova (Russia); Christie Colin (United States); and Seyedeh-Vida Halimianavval (Iran). Under Archery World Cup rules, the country hosting the Finals event is allowed to name an eighth competitor to each division of competition. Thus, Turkey added Gizem Kocaman to the final group of women compound bow archers.
In addition, as a result of Erika's remarkable performances in the qualifying stages of this year's World Cup series, she was ranked second among all international women compound bow contenders for the Longines Prize for Precision. Going into the Finals event in Turkey, Erika trailed behind Italy's Laura Longo by the narrow margin of only one ten (276-275). Longo who was seeded second in the Finals is also ranked fourth in the world among female compound bow target archers.
The scenic setting for the venue of the 2011 Archery World Cup Finals was located on the grounds of the Kucuksu Palace in Istanbul at the place where East meets West along the shoreline of the Bosphorus Strait that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Located across the Strait from the site of the venue is the Rumeli Castle with the impressive Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge extending high over the expansive waterway in the background.
During the Finals, the eight archers in each division are assigned to tournament bracket pairings for match play based on the rankings they achieved during individual competition throughout the preceding four stages of the World Cup series. For each match, the paired archers shoot five, three-arrow ends at an 80-centimeter, multi-colored target face from a distance of 50 meters (54.67 yards) for a total possible 150 points. The 10-ring on the target face measures 8 centimeters (3.15 inches) in diameter. In the Finals, the archers alternate shooting their three arrows during an end and are allowed only 20 seconds to execute each of their shots. A tied match score is resolved via a sudden death one-arrow shoot-off. The archer who shoots their arrow closest to the center of the target is declared the winner.
In the quarterfinal round match, Erika was paired with the eighth seeded Gizem Kocaman of Turkey. This was the second time the two archers had shot a match against one another. Their first bout together occurred earlier this year in the 1/24 round of the World Cup – Stage 2 event held in Antalya, Turkey where Erika easily won that contest (145-133). However, during this second meeting between the two archers, the very partisan crowd of Turkish spectators provided even more raucous support in favor of Kocaman who in turn converted that energy to outscore Erika by one point through the first two ends of the match. Undaunted by her Turkish opponent's improved performance, Erika continued to shoot well in the third end while Kocaman was unable to maintain the pace and fell behind by two points in the contest. In each of the remaining two ends of the match, Erika repeatedly extended her lead until ultimately prevailing 143-135 to advance to the semifinals.
The semifinal round match pitted Erika opposite of Italy's Marcella Tonioli who was the fourth seed in the Finals and also ranked fifth in the world. This was the third time for the two archers to square off against one another in match play on the world stage. The first such occurrence was earlier this year at the World Outdoor Target Archery Championships in Torino, Italy where Erika defeated her Italian opponent (147-142) in a quarterfinal round match before advancing to eventually win the individual bronze medal. Their second bout occurred a little later on in the year when they met in the gold medal match of the World Cup – Stage 3 event in Ogden, Utah where Tonioli narrowly won the contest in a one arrow shoot-off following a tied match score (139-139). Thus, Erika was in a position to avenge the earlier loss to the Italian by defeating her in this semifinal round match at the Finals in Istanbul. Erika's first three shots of the match scored 26 points while Tonioli managed to score one point better to take an early lead in the match. Despite windy conditions, Erika was able to fight back in the next two ends by shooting six consecutive tens to take a three-point lead over her opponent with six arrows remaining to be shot in the contest. During the fourth end, Erika bested Tonioli by another three points to establish a commanding lead of six points with three arrows remaining to be shot in the match. In the final end, Tonioli shot perfectly scoring three tens in a valiant come-back effort, but it was too little too late to make a difference in the final outcome (143-139) that allowed Erika to advance to final round of the Finals competition.
For the gold medal match, Erika came to the shooting line against fellow U.S. Archery Team member and friend Christie Colin, the latter of whom was seeded sixth in the Finals and ranked tenth in the world. Both archers started the match strong by shooting tens with their first arrows despite the continuance of variable, gusty winds. The second volley of arrows in the match resulted in Erika scoring a nine as Colin apparently fell victim to the unfavorable weather conditions with an errant shot to the six-ring of her target. Erika then managed to shoot another ten for her last shot of the first end while Colin could only muster a nine, thus giving Erika an early four-point advantage in the duel. That same margin of difference in the contest was maintained after the second end of arrows had been shot. In the third end, Erika was able to gain another point on Colin to extend her lead by five points. During the fourth end, Erika showed no mercy as she continued to increase her lead by shooting all three of her arrows into the ten-ring while Colin scored only 29 points. With a six-point lead and three arrows remaining to be shot in the match, Erika proceeded to score two more tens before succumbing to the ill-effects of the wind on her final shot that landed in the seven-ring. Meanwhile, Colin fared better with her final three shots that scored another 29 points, but it was not enough to make-up the margin of difference in Erika's favor for the gold medal (142-138).
In the consolation match for the bronze medal, Tonioli faced Iran's Seyedeh-Vida Halimianavval, the latter of whom was seeded seventh in the Finals and eleventh in world ranking. The two archers engaged in an exciting shoot-out that was not decided until the last arrow was shot in the contest by Tonioli that allowed her to win by a mere one point (136-135).
The competition for the 2011 Longines Prize for Precision was decided during the quarterfinal round of the Finals when the leading contender for the award, Longo of Italy, was defeated by the Iranian Halimianavval after a one-arrow shoot-off to resolve a tied match score (139-139). Meanwhile, Erika won her quarterfinal match and eventually the gold medal match too. As a result, Erika was able to ultimately claim the Prize by scoring more tens during the course of the World Cup series than her closest competitor, Longo (304-282). Fellow U.S. Archery Team member, Rodger Willett, Jr. was the male compound bow archer recipient of the Prize for 2011.
For more information about how Erika and the other U.S. Archery Team members performed at the Archery World Cup Finals, go to the USA Archery website at http://www.usarchery.org/.
Erika Anschutz of Hamilton, Ohio began shooting a bow at the age of six, and was competing in archery tournaments by the time she was seven years-old in 1996. Since that time, she has compiled an amazing record while winning numerous state and regional championships, along with a total of 41 national championships in indoor, outdoor, and 3-D competition. Beginning in 2002, Erika has been a member of two Collegiate, four Senior, and five Junior U.S. World Archery Teams that have successfully competed in World Target Archery Championships. She has had the privilege of traveling to, and competing in, such countries as the Czech Republic, France, England, Denmark, Spain, Mexico, Germany, Taiwan, Poland, Serbia, and South Korea. While competing internationally, Erika has distinguished herself as being among the world's best archers by winning a total of 17 world titles in individual and team events, including six gold medals, four silver medals, and seven bronze medals. In addition to her stellar list of archery championship titles, she has also established an impressive total of 161 national record scores, including 21 world records in indoor and outdoor competition. Learn about Erika's archery equipment.
Included among Erika's notable archery accomplishments is the distinction of being recognized as one of the top-ranked members of the National Archery Association's Junior and Senior U.S. Archery Teams for nine consecutive years, and also one of the top-ranked members of the U.S. Collegiate All-American and All-Academic Archery Teams during the past three years. Since 2005, when she was 16-years-old, Erika has been a Pro Staff shooter for both Hoyt and Easton, and a member of the National Field Archery Association's (NFAA) Pro Division. She has been one of the top-ranked professional female archers in the nation since that time and won the NFAA Pro Female Shooter of the Year Award for 2009.
Early in 2009, Erika was elected by a group of her peers from across the nation to serve on the USA Archery Athletes Advisory Council which, in turn, elected her to serve as the Compound Athlete Representative to the USA Archery Board of Directors. In May 2009, she received a $500 academic scholarship from the U.S. Collegiate Archery Program via a grant by the Easton Sports Development Foundation (ESDF). One month later, Erika was further honored as the recipient of a $5,000 academic scholarship funded by the NFAA Foundation and ESDF.
In addition to archery, Erika enjoys working out, listening to music, playing card games such as Texas Hold ‘Em, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves watching and keeping up with everything related to college football (especially the Nebraska Huskers) and such reality television shows as "American Idol" and "The Bachelor / Bachelorette." Erika will be a senior during the 2009 / 2010 school year at the University of Nebraska where she is majoring in Psychology. After earning her Bachelors degree, Erika plans to attend graduate school and study toward a Masters degree.
Erika’s sponsors include: Alpen Outdoor Products, BCY Inc., Carter Enterprises, Easton, Field Logic, Hoyt, Leven Industries, Nealy’s Custom Bowstrings, Inc., Premier Archery (Lincoln, NE) Sims Vibration Laboratory, Inc., Specialty Archery L.L.C., Spot-Hogg, and Sure-Loc Archery Products.
Tournaments:
FITA 10th World Indoor Archery Championship Gold Medalist (Team) and Bronze Medalist (Individual) - 2009
FITA 45th World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Bronze Medalist (Team) - 2009
FITA 44th World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Bronze Medalist (Team) - 2007
FITA IX Junior World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Bronze Medalist (Individual) - 2006
FITA 43rd World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Silver Medalist (Team) - 2005
FITA VIII Junior World Indoor Archery Championship Silver Medalist (Individual) - 2005
FITA VIII Junior World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Bronze Medalist (Individual) & Gold Medalist (Team) - 2004
FITA VII Junior World Indoor Archery Championship Silver Medalist (Individual) & Gold Medalist (Team) - 2003
FITA VII Junior World Outdoor Target Archery Championship Gold Medalist (Individual) - 2002
25th World University Games Silver Medalist (Mixed Team) and Bronze Medalist (Individual) - 2009
FISU VII World University Archery Championship Gold Medalist (Individual) - 2008
FISU VII World University Archery Championship Gold Medalist (Mixed Team) - 2008
FISU VII World University Archery Championship Bronze Medalist (Team) - 2008
COPANARCO Multi-Site Indoor Championship of the Americas Champion (Western Hemisphere) - 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004
U.S. Senior World Outdoor Target Archery Team Trials Champion - 2009
U.S. Collegiate World Outdoor Target Archery Team Trials Champion - 2009
U.S. Junior World Outdoor Target Archery Team Trials Champion - 2002 and 2006
U.S. Junior World Indoor Archery Team Trials Champion - 2003
NAA National Indoor Champion - 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007
NAA National Outdoor Target Champion - 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006
NAA Collegiate National Indoor Champion - 2007 and 2009
NAA Collegiate National Outdoor Champion - 2009
NAA JOAD National Indoor Champion - 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006
NAA JOAD National Outdoor Target Champion - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004
NFAA National Indoor Champion - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007
NFAA National Outdoor Champion - 1998 and 1999
NFAA National 3-D Champion - 1999
NFAA National Marked 3-D Champion - 2009
NFAA World Archery Festival Champion - 2003
NFAA Midwest Sectional Indoor Champion - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2007
NFAA Midwest Sectional Outdoor Champion - 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2006
NFAA Southeast Sectional Outdoor Champion - 2008
NFAA Midwest Sectional 3-D Champion - 1999
NFAA Nebraska State Indoor Champion - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, and 2007
NFAA Nebraska State Indoor Target Champion - 2005
NFAA Nebraska State Outdoor Champion - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2006
NFAA Nebraska State Target Champion - 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2000
NFAA Nebraska State 3-D Champion - 1999 and 2001
Kansas City Shoot out Champion - 2005 and 2006
Texas Shoot out Champion - 2004 and 2009
Big Sky Open (Grand Junction, CO) Champion - 2006
Stanislawski Open Champion - 2007
U.S. Open Champion - 2007
Gold Cup Champion - 2008
ISAA Pro-Am Champion - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2009
Presley’s Midwest Open Champion - 2008
World Records:
Cadet Compound: 2002 (Outdoor) - 70m-338; 60m-344/tie; 12-arrow Finals Match-117; and 36-arrow Finals Total-338/tie. 2003 (Indoor) - 2x18m-573 and 583; 12-arrow Finals Match-116; and 36-arrow Finals Total-343; 2003 (Outdoor) - 12-arrow Finals Match-117/tie; and 36-arrow Finals Total-338/tie; 2004 (Indoor) - 2x18m-586; and 2004 (Outdoor) - 72-arrow (70m) Qualifying Round - 663/tie; 60m - 349; 50m (122cm face) - 351; 40m (80cm face) - 340/tie; 144-arrow FITA Round (60-30m) - 1,386; 50m (122cm face) - 356; 40m (80cm face) - 351; 30m (80cm face) - 359; and 144-arrow FITA Round (60-30m) - 1,409
Junior Compound: 2004 (Outdoor) - 144-arrow FITA Round - 1,385 and 2x27-arrow Team Finals Total - 494; and 2006 (Indoor) - 2x18m - 593; (Outdoor) - 70m- 349; and 60m- 352
Senior Compound: 2006 (Indoor) - 2x18m - 593/tie; 2007 (Outdoor) - 3x144-arrow Team FITA Round - 4,157 and 24-arrow Team Finals Match - 232; and 2009 (Indoor) - 24-arrow Team Finals Match - 236
National Records:
NAA Indoor Star FITA Records (Cadet Compound - Single/Double FITA): 1999 - 569/1,133; 2002 - 576/1,152; 2003 - 583/1,166; 2004 - Single FITA 586; Junior Compound Double FITA: 1,160; and 2005 - Junior Compound: 587/1,167; and 2006 - Junior Compound: 593/1,180
NAA Outdoor Star FITA Records: 2000 (Cadet Compound) - 30m-358/716; 25m-359/717; 20m-358/715; 15m-360(28x)/720(54x); and Single/Double FITA-1,434/2,868; 2001 (Junior Compound) - 50m-353/696; 40m-358; 30m-703; and Single/Double FITA-1,421/2,813; 2002 (Cadet Compound) - 70m-338; 60m-344; and 12-arrow Finals Match-117; 2003 (Cadet Compound) - 30m-355/713; 60m Double-678; Single/Double FITA-1,370/2,715; 2004 (Cadet Compound) - 70m Double-663; 60m - 349/686; 50m (122cm face) - 356; 40m (80cm face) - 340 and 351; 30m - 359; and Single FITA (60-30m) - 1,386 and 1,409; (Junior Compound) - 60m Double-686; 50m Double-692; 30m 359/713; and Single/Double FITA - 1,385/2,763; 2006 (Junior Compound) - 70m- 349/681; 60m - 352/700; 30m - 360-24X/719; and Single/Double FITA - 1,397/2,783; and 2007 (Senior Compound) - 50m - 351/tie; 60m - 354/704; and Single FITA - 1,408
NAA National Indoor Championship Records (Cadet Compound - Single/Double FITA): 1999 - 569/1,133; 2002 - 576/1,152; 2003 - 583/1,166; 2004 Junior Compound Double FITA: 1,160; and 2006 - Junior Compound: 593/1,180
NAA National Outdoor Target Championship Records: 2000 (Cadet Compound) - 30m-358/716; 25m-359/717; 20m-358/715; 15m-360(28)/720(54); and Single/Double FITA - 1,434/2,868; 2001 (Junior Compound) - 50m-353/696; 40-m-358; 30m-352/703; and Single/Double FITA - 1,421/2,813; 2003 (Cadet Compound) - 30m Double-713; 50m-340/678; 60m 342/678; 70m-333; and Single/Double FITA - 1,370/2,715; 2004 (Cadet Compound) - 60m 344/686; and (Junior Compound) - 60m Double-686; 50m -346 (tie); 50m Double - 692; 30m 357/713; and Single/Double FITA - 1,382/2,763; 2006 (Junior Compound) - 70m - 343/681; 60m - 352/700; 30m - 360-24X/719; and Single/Double FITA - 1,396/2,783; and 2007 (Senior Compound) - 60m - 353- tie/704; 70m - 349/tie; and Single FITA - 1,403
NAA JOAD National Indoor Championship Records: 1999 (Cadet Compound - 579); 2001 (Junior Compound - 598); 2002 (Cadet Compound - 576); and 2004 (Cadet and Junior Compound - 586)
NAA JOAD National Outdoor Target Championship Records: 2000 (Cadet Compound) - 30m-353; 25m-356; 20m-356; 15m-359; and Single FITA - 1,424; 2001 (Junior Compound) - 50m-343; 40m-348; 30m-348; 20m-359; Single FITA - 1,398; and Olympic Round/12 arrows - 118; 2002 (Cadet Compound) - 60m-343; 70m-338; and Single FITA - 1,367; 2003 (Cadet Compound) - 30m-355; 50m-334; and 12-arrow Finals Match-117; 2004 (Cadet Compound) - 60m-349 and 30m-355; (Junior Compound) - 60m-349; 50m-342; 30m-355 and Single FITA - 1,385; and 2006 (Junior Compound) - 70m - 349; 50m - 347; 30m - 356; and Single FITA - 1,397
NFAA National Indoor Championship Records: 1999 (Cub Free style - 600-94x @ 20 yards); 2002 (Youth Free style - 600-107x); 2003 (Youth Styx - 600-111x); 2004 (Young Adult Styx - 600-116x); and 2006 (Pro Women Styx - 600-117x/tie)
NFAA National Outdoor Championship Records: 1999 (Cub Styx) - 1-day Field Round - 557; 2-day Field Round - 1,114; 2-day Hunter Round - 1,112; Animal Round - 560; and 5-day Aggregate - 2,786); 2007 (Pro Styx) - 1-day Hunter Round - 556; 2-day Hunter Round - 1,110; and 5-day Aggregate - 2,784/tie
Miscellaneous:
FITA World Ranking (Senior Women Compound Bow) - Ranked #14 as of September 2009
NAA National Ranking - 2000 (Cadet Compound - Ranked #1); 2001 (Junior Compound - Ranked #1); 2002 (Cadet Compound - Ranked #1); 2003 (Cadet Compound - Ranked #1); 2004 (Junior Compound - Ranked #1); 2005 (Junior Compound - Ranked #1); 2006 (Junior Compound - Ranked #1); 2007 (Senior Compound - Ranked #2); 2008 (Senior Compound - Ranked #2); and 2009 (Senior Compound - Ranked #2)
U.S. World Outdoor Archery Team (Senior Compound) - 2005, 2007, and 2009
U.S. World Indoor Archery Team (Senior Compound) - 2009
U.S. Collegiate World Outdoor Archery Team (Women’s Compound) - 2008 and 2009
U.S. Junior World Indoor Archery Team (Junior Compound) - 2003 and 2005
U.S. Junior World Outdoor Archery Team (Junior Compound) - 2004 and 2006
U.S. Junior World Outdoor Archery Team (Cadet Compound) - 2002
U.S. Collegiate All-American Archery Team (Women’s Compound) - 2008, 2009, and 2010
U.S. Collegiate All-Academic Archery Team (Women’s Compound) - 2009 and 2010
NAA Senior U.S. Archery Team (Senior Compound) - 2008, 2009, and 2010
NAA Junior U.S. Archery Team (Junior Compound) - 2005, 2006, and 2007
NAA Junior U.S. Archery Team (Cadet Compound) - 2002, 2003, and 2004
NAA JOAD Indoor Olympian Award - February 1999
NAA JOAD Indoor Silver Olympian Award - March 1999
NAA JOAD Indoor Gold Olympian Award - March 2001
NAA JOAD Outdoor Olympian Award - June 2001
NAA JOAD Outdoor Silver Olympian Award - May 2002
NAA JOAD Outdoor Gold Olympian Award - June 2002
NFAA Pro Female Shooter of the Year Award - 2009
NFAA Pro Points Ranking - 2006 (Second), 2007 (First), 2008 (Second)
NFAA Nebraska State Overall Champion - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001
Named "Outstanding Female Athlete" of the 1997 Cornhusker State Summer Games
Recipient of a $500 academic scholarship from CAP and the Easton Sports Development Foundation (ESDF) - May 2009
Recipient of a $5,000 academic scholarship from the NFAA Foundation and ESDF - June 2009
Elected to serve as a member of the USA Archery Athletes Advisory Council - 2009
Elected to serve as the Compound Bow Athlete Representative to the USA Archery Board of Directors - 2009
Hoyt Pro Staff member since September 2005
Easton Pro Staff member since November 2005
BCY Bowstring
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USA
155 Industrial Park Road
Middletown CT 06457
USA
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