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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
NCAA Championships
Rifle Sits In Second After Day One of NCAA Championships
3/10/2023 | Rifle
Horvath and Pereira Finish Top Eight in Smallbore Final
AKRON, Ohio – Ole Miss rifle fired a 2346 team score in smallbore, putting the Rebels in second place behind Alaska Fairbanks by three points after the first day of the NCAA Championships. Emma Pereira and Lea Horvath also finished among the top eight individually, qualifying for the finals.
The three Rebels at the NCAA Championships for the first time shot in relay one. Martina Gratz and Emma Pereira got off to a slow start but finished strong. The freshman Pereira tallied with a 588, earning her a spot in the finals. Gratz also had a solid performance, firing a 582.
Kristen Derting and Lea Horvath competed in the second relay and excelled. Derting was consistent throughout the three positions, including a perfect prone score. Both recorded scores of 588, just like Pereira; however, only Horvath moved on to the finals. Horvath's 37 center shots gave her the edge over other competitors with the same score.
Pereira and Horvath were in the mix in the final through their first 25 shots. At one point, Horvath was tied for second but fluctuated back to fifth, where she finished. In her first NCAA finals, Pereira was holding strong in sixth most of the way but unfortunately fell to seventh once elimination shots began.
The second day of the NCAA Championships will start at 8 a.m. CT on Saturday. The teams will shoot air rifle, and a national champion will be crowned.
