FAIRBANKS, Alaska – An outstanding effort in air rifle helped No. 1 TCU erase a five-shot deficit to claim the Patriot Rifle Conference championship. The Horned Frogs edged out No. 2 Alaska, 4,750-4,749. The conference title is the sixth in program history. TCU fired a team score of 2,390 to take home the air rifle championship, the seventh in program history.
Julie Johannessen took home the air rifle individual title.
Julie Johannessen became the sixth shooter in NCAA history to record at least two perfect scores in air rifle in her career. She is the second Horned Frog to accomplish the feat, joining Mindy Miles. She had a weekend to remember, setting the NCAA individual smallbore record with a 598 on Saturday. Her aggregate total of 1,198 is also an NCAA record.
The Horned Frogs were well-represented in the finals as Johannessen,
Katie Zaun and
Abigail Gordon qualified. Johannessen again advanced to the gold medal final and won on her last shot of the day, firing a 10.8 to top Cecelia Ossi of Nebraska by 0.3 of a point. Gordon finished tied for third after shooting a 260.9. Zaun finished seventh after shooting a 155.5 in the finals.
TCU came out strong in the first relay. Johannessen's 600, which featured 56 center shots, highlighted the day. Zaun turned in a career-high 599, while Gordon tied her career-high with a 598. Also contributing to the team's final score of 2,390 was
Stephanie Allan, who shot a 593 in the second relay.
Anne White just missed making the individual finals as she fired a 596.
Nina Schuett and
Mikole Hogan fired identical marks of 594 and
Kristen Hemphill finished with a 589.
Overall in the match, TCU produced three of the top 10 aggregate scores. Zaun finished the weekend with a career-high aggregate mark of 1,192 for second place. White turned in a season-high aggregate of 1,183 to finish ninth.
The Horned Frogs will next take part in the NCAA Qualifier on Feb. 18 at Air Force. The qualifier is the fourth and final score utilized by the NCAA to determine the top eight teams that will take part in the NCAA Championships set to be held in Akron, Ohio.
