MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University rising sophomore Ginny Thrasher and incoming freshman Milica Babic earned two top-three finishes apiece at the 26th Meeting of the Shooting Hopes in Pilsen, Czech Republic.

A native of Springfield, Virginia, Thrasher, a 2016 Rio Summer Olympics qualifier for the United States and the reigning NCAA air rifle and smallbore champion, finished first in the junior women’s 10m air rifle on May 27 and third in the junior women’s 50m rifle 3 positions on May 29. Babic, a native of Belgrade, Serbia, won the junior women’s 50m rifle 3 positions and placed second in the junior women’s 10m air rifle.

“It was a great week for both athletes,” WVU coach Jon Hammond said. “For Ginny, she has had two long weeks of competition, as she just shot at the ISSF Munich World Cup, but this has been a great experience for her against high-level competition. She’s made four straight finals and capped off the week with two medals at the junior competition.

“Milica also had great results over the weekend. I really liked to see the athletes compete against each other and reach the podium together. This is exciting for our team and program; they’re both shooting well this summer, and that should serve as a great lead in to next season.”

Thrasher and Babic held steady to their air rifle qualifying relay finishes, as the duo also placed first and second, respectively, with Thrasher shooting 420.6 (104.5, 104.8, 104.8, 106.5), and Babic shooting 419.5 (104.7, 105.0, 104.1, 105.7). Thrasher tallied 208.4 in the final, and Babic followed with a 207.8 score.

Two days later, Babic stood atop the podium, as she finished first in the 50m rifle 3 positions final with a 459.4 mark. She entered the final in third place, shooting 582 (199, 195, 186) in the qualifier. After entering the final in first place with a 586 (195, 197, 194) qualifying mark, Thrasher placed third with a 443.0 final total.

Thrasher also had a strong showing in the junior women’s 50m rifle prone on May 28, shooting 620.1 (103.9, 103.6, 103.7, 103.9, 101.7, 103.3) and placing seventh overall. Babic shot 614.6 and finished in 25th place.

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butchlambert,
Just want to thank you for your postings regarding the shooters at WVU. Such information is rarely if ever posted in our local "liberal newspaper" for it involves the sport of shooting. Again, thanks.

Instructor,
Not a problem. Coach Jon Hammond is a friend and I have met some of our shooters.