The University of Mississippi Athletics
Four Rebels Excel at National Junior Olympic Smallbore Rifle Championships
4/19/2019 | Rifle
Quartet Finished in the Top 25 This Week in Colorado
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four Ole Miss Rifle athletes excelled alongside the nation's best this week in the Women's Three-Position Rifle event at the National Junior Olympic Shooting Championships inside the Olympic Shooting Center at Colorado Springs.
Freshman Jillian Zakrzeski, incoming recruit Kristen Derting, and sophomores Kamilla Kisch and Sophia Cuozzo placed in the top 25 of 75 total competitors. Each competitor tallied points over two of three days, Tuesday through Thursday. A final for the top-eight shooters was then held Thursday.
Zakrzeski narrowly reached her second final of the week at the NJOSC, finishing 10th with 2300 points. Derting ended the week in 13th (2284 points), Kisch in 15th (2281), and Cuozzo in 25th (2258).
Katie Zaun, representing North Dakota, earned first place, firing a two-day and finals score of 2334.
On Monday, Zakrzeski (seventh of 202; 1240.4 points), Kisch (47th; 1221.3), freshman Erin Walsh (54th; 1219.3), Cuozzo (82nd; 1209.3), incoming Rebel Claire O'Neel (49th; 1220.4) and Derting (99th; 1204.2) concluded the Women's Air Rifle portion of the NJOSC.
This match used the 2020 Olympic course of fire for the Women's Three-Position Smallbore event. Athletes fired 40 shots in each of three positions, kneeling, prone and standing. In NCAA rifle, athletes fire 20 shots in each position.
The top-eight scores in the two-day aggregate qualified for the final. Shooters received between 1 and 8 points added to their two-day total based on how they placed in the final. First place received 8 points, second place received 7, and so on. Medals, National Junior Team appointments and slots on the team going to Germany were awarded on the total points from Qualification and Finals finish.
The 75 athletes competing in Women's Smallbore won their chance to compete at NJOSC because of their finishes at the state-level Junior Olympic matches. Overall, 607 athletes from 48 states will compete in Rifle, Pistol and Paralympic events throughout the three-week NJOSC. The NJOSC features the top 34 percent of all competitors in 2019 and will feature invitees that either won their state championship or were selected based on a score they attained. The competitors range in age from nine to 20 years old.
For more information about the National Junior Olympic Program for Rifle/Pistol click here.
Marsha's Minute…
On overall impressions…
"Overall, I was pleased with our performance in smallbore. Everyone was very consistent and on the high side of their recent averages. Certainly, it was great to see Jillian Zakrzeski average 1150 and finish in tenth place."
On Zakrzeski's performance…
"Jillian Zakrzeski placed tenth in the National Junior Olympic Smallbore Rifle Championship. This competition was the first time Jillian had fired a match at the Olympic distance of 50 meters. She fired a 1149 the first day and then improved on her personal best the second day firing an 1151 and missing the final by only four points."
On Ole Miss' remaining performances…
"Ole Miss 2019-20 recruit, Kristen Derting placed 13th firing a pair of 1142s. Kamilla Kisch posted scores of 1140 and 1141, both personal-best scores to place 15th. Sophia Cuozzo was also consistent – firing identical scores of 1129."
OLE MISS RESULTS
2019 National Junior Olympic Shooting Championship
50m Three Position Rifle Women Results, April 16-18
For more information on Ole Miss Rifle, follow the Rebels on Facebook (OleMissRifle), Twitter (@OleMissRifle), Instagram (@OleMissRifle), and at olemisssports.com.
Freshman Jillian Zakrzeski, incoming recruit Kristen Derting, and sophomores Kamilla Kisch and Sophia Cuozzo placed in the top 25 of 75 total competitors. Each competitor tallied points over two of three days, Tuesday through Thursday. A final for the top-eight shooters was then held Thursday.
Zakrzeski narrowly reached her second final of the week at the NJOSC, finishing 10th with 2300 points. Derting ended the week in 13th (2284 points), Kisch in 15th (2281), and Cuozzo in 25th (2258).
Katie Zaun, representing North Dakota, earned first place, firing a two-day and finals score of 2334.
On Monday, Zakrzeski (seventh of 202; 1240.4 points), Kisch (47th; 1221.3), freshman Erin Walsh (54th; 1219.3), Cuozzo (82nd; 1209.3), incoming Rebel Claire O'Neel (49th; 1220.4) and Derting (99th; 1204.2) concluded the Women's Air Rifle portion of the NJOSC.
This match used the 2020 Olympic course of fire for the Women's Three-Position Smallbore event. Athletes fired 40 shots in each of three positions, kneeling, prone and standing. In NCAA rifle, athletes fire 20 shots in each position.
The top-eight scores in the two-day aggregate qualified for the final. Shooters received between 1 and 8 points added to their two-day total based on how they placed in the final. First place received 8 points, second place received 7, and so on. Medals, National Junior Team appointments and slots on the team going to Germany were awarded on the total points from Qualification and Finals finish.
The 75 athletes competing in Women's Smallbore won their chance to compete at NJOSC because of their finishes at the state-level Junior Olympic matches. Overall, 607 athletes from 48 states will compete in Rifle, Pistol and Paralympic events throughout the three-week NJOSC. The NJOSC features the top 34 percent of all competitors in 2019 and will feature invitees that either won their state championship or were selected based on a score they attained. The competitors range in age from nine to 20 years old.
For more information about the National Junior Olympic Program for Rifle/Pistol click here.
Marsha's Minute…
On overall impressions…
"Overall, I was pleased with our performance in smallbore. Everyone was very consistent and on the high side of their recent averages. Certainly, it was great to see Jillian Zakrzeski average 1150 and finish in tenth place."
On Zakrzeski's performance…
"Jillian Zakrzeski placed tenth in the National Junior Olympic Smallbore Rifle Championship. This competition was the first time Jillian had fired a match at the Olympic distance of 50 meters. She fired a 1149 the first day and then improved on her personal best the second day firing an 1151 and missing the final by only four points."
On Ole Miss' remaining performances…
"Ole Miss 2019-20 recruit, Kristen Derting placed 13th firing a pair of 1142s. Kamilla Kisch posted scores of 1140 and 1141, both personal-best scores to place 15th. Sophia Cuozzo was also consistent – firing identical scores of 1129."
OLE MISS RESULTS
2019 National Junior Olympic Shooting Championship
50m Three Position Rifle Women Results, April 16-18
| Rank | Name | ST | Cat | Day1 | Day2 | Match |
| 10 | Jillian Zakrzeski | MS | J1 | 1149 | 1151 | 2300 |
| 13 | Kristen Derting | OR | J1 | 1142 | 1142 | 2284 |
| 15 | Kamilla Kisch | MS | J1 | 1140 | 1141 | 2281 |
| 25 | Sophia Cuozzo | CT | J1 | 1129 | 1129 | 2258 |
| 75 | Total Competitiors |
For more information on Ole Miss Rifle, follow the Rebels on Facebook (OleMissRifle), Twitter (@OleMissRifle), Instagram (@OleMissRifle), and at olemisssports.com.
Players Mentioned
Rifle 2026 NCAA Selection Show
Monday, February 23
Shootin' The Breeze with Ole Miss Rifle's Susan Carter and Regan Diamond
Tuesday, October 21
HOT SHOTS: Audrey Gogniat and Emma Holtz
Thursday, March 20
Rifle Air Rifle Runners-Up NCAA
Saturday, March 15