USA dominates CAT Games By Paula J. Randall Pagán U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Public Affairs Office FORT BENNING, Ga. – Old Glory waved and “The Star-Spangled Banner” played as the United States of America took the majority of the medals won in the Championship of the Americas October 1 to 7. USA shooters won 116 of the 192 medals awarded, bringing home 64 Gold, 40 Silver and 12 Bronze Medals from the competition, more than three times as many as any other country. Canada finished second in the competition, winning 27 medals and Guatemala was third with 13 medals. More than 230 athletes from 13 countries competed in the Championship of the Americas – called the CAT Games. Originally, nearly 400 people from two dozen countries were scheduled to compete. However, because of the terrorist activities of Sept. 11, many countries were unable to participate. The CAT Games was hosted by the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and sponsored by USA Shooting, the national governing body for Olympic shooting sports in the United States. “On behalf of USA Shooting, we thank the countries as well as all of the athletes and officials who participated in the 2001 Shooting Championships of the Confederation of the Americas de Tiro,” USA Shooting Secretary General Bob Mitchell told the crowd at the Oct. 7 closing ceremonies. “This competition had special challenges resulting from the terrorist activities of Sept. 11th. It was through the work and cooperation of many people that travel to Columbus (Ga.) was pleasant and access to Fort Benning was convenient. We thank the United States Army Marksmanship Unit for providing the ranges and assistance in conducting the competition.” The CAT Games, Campeonato de Tiro de las Americas, is the shooting championships for the Western Hemisphere, which is conducted every four years. The CAT Games is classified as an ISSF (International Shooting Sports Federation) Championship - where shooters can set world records. ISSF Championships are limited to the Olympics, World Championships, Pan-American Games, Continental Championships and World Cups. At the CAT Games, members of the U.S. Shooting Team competed against teams from Canada, Mexico, Central America and South America for the title of being the best in the Americas. The following are the USAMU soldiers who won medals. Spc. Shane M. Barnhart: individual Silver Medal and team Gold Medal, Air Rifle; and individual Bronze Medal and team Gold Medal, 300-Meter Standard Rifle. Sgt. Jason A. Parker: individual Silver Medal and team Gold Medal, 50-Meter Three-Position Rifle. Capt. Glenn A. Dubis: individual and team Gold Medals, 300-Meter Standard Rifle; and individual Silver Medal and team Gold Medal, 300-Meter Prone Rifle. Maj. Michael E. Anti: individual Silver Medal and team Gold Medal, 50-Meter Three-Position Rifle; and team Gold Medal, 50-Meter Prone Rifle. Sgt. 1st Class Daryl L. Szarenski: individual Silver Medal and team Gold Medal, Air Pistol; individual Silver Medal and team Gold Medal, Center Fire Pistol; and individual Silver Medal and team Gold Medal, Standard Pistol. Sgt. Armando R. Ayala: individual Gold Medal, 50-Meter 30+30 Running Target; individual Silver Medal and team Gold Medal, 10-Meter Mixed Running Target; individual Silver Medal and team Gold Medal, 50-Meter Mixed Running Target; and individual Bronze Medal and team Gold Medal, 10-Meter 30+30 Running Target. Sgt. 1st Class Lance D. Dement: individual Silver Medal, 50-Meter 30+30 Running Target; and individual Bronze Medal and team Gold Medal, 50-Meter Mixed Running Target. Sgt. 1st Class James T. Graves: individual Silver Medal and team Gold Medal, Skeet. Staff Sgt. Joseph D. Buffa: team Gold Medal, Skeet. Besides winning most of the medals, the U.S. Team also set several world records in the competition.  The rifle team of Dubis, Barnhart and retired Maj. Stephen C. Goff not only won the Gold Medal in the 300-Meter Standard Rifle Match, but they also broke the world record by 11 points. Dubis also exceeded the world record for his individual Gold-Medal-winning score. The U. S. Men’s 50-Meter Three-Position Rifle Team score of Parker, Anti and University of Alaska student Matt Emmons exceeded the world’s record by 2 points. Emmons, who is still a junior, won three individual gold medals in men’s rifle events. (Formed in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the U.S. Army, the Army Marksmanship Unit has been a part of the U. S. Army Recruiting Command since October 1999. The Marksmanship Unit trains its soldiers to win competitions and enhances combat readiness through train-the-trainer clinics, research and development. The world-class soldier-athletes of the USAMU also promote the Army and assist recruiters in attracting young Americans to enlist in the Army. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, paula.pagan@usarec.army.mil or http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/amu/.)