Archers hit mark at national championship

Borges wins Junior title, sets record

Click to Enlarge Penn Valley's Trelaina Borges won a gold medal recently in Orlando, Fla., for her archery talents. The Union photo/David B. Torch Browse & Buy Union Photos

By Rob Renaud
July 22, 2005

Her goal is to make the U.S. Olympic team and the road requires one step at a time, one national team at a time.

Trelaina Borges, 15, of the Nevada County Gold Archery Team took a big step toward making the 2006 Junior United States Archery Team recently when she won the 2005 Junior Olympic Archery Development Outdoor Nationals held in Orlando, Fla.

Competing in the female cadet recurve division, Trelaina is currently ranked fourth in the 2006 Junior USAT rankings and came up against all nine of the girls who complete the top ten and 11 of the top 15.

Shooting 36 arrows at each of four distances from 30 to 60 meters, two distances per day, Borges scored 1,266 of a possible 1,440 points. Her 329 of 360 possible points at 40 meters set a new national standard for the division at that distance.

"The competition was real close," said coach and mentor Charley Washburn of Nevada City. "She (Borges) was ahead by 31 points at the start of the second day and only won by 19."

The third day of competition was for the Junior U.S. Open and consisted of "Olympic Round" style shooting which involves head-to-head competition shooting at a target 70 meters away. After receiving a bye in the first round, Borges fired a 154 with her 18 arrows, fourth best score in the Olympic round competition, but lost to Sara Holstein's 159, the high score on the day.

Miles Ross of the Nevada County Gold Archery team also competed in Orlando. His 1,303 points in the two-day FITA stage earned him sixth place. Ross managed to shoot his way into the Bronze medal match of the Olympic round competition. He lost the medal round 108-107 to finish fourth.

Next up for Ross, Borges and Alden Harris of the Nevada County Gold Archery Club are the 121st National Target Championships being held at Colorado Springs from July 30 August 5. This meet is particularly important for Borges as the three top-ranking individuals after this event will be chosen for the 2006 Junior USAT team.

Washburn isn't worried.

"I think she'll be picked," he said. "She'll be going up against the same girls as in Orlando. I think she'll win."

To contact sportswriter Rob Renaud, e-mail robr@theunion.com or call 477-4240.