College Hosts 2000 U.S. Intercollegiate Archery Championships

For the first time in the four-year history of its archery program, Pennsylvania College of Technology will be the site of the National Archery Association's 2000 U.S. Intercollegiate Championships from May 17-20.

The 23-team field, sporting 146 archers, will arrive Tuesday, May 16, with individual competition beginning Thursday, May 18. Individual team competition will continue Friday, with team competition commencing then, as well. The individual medal round will be contested from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The overall championships, co-hosted by The Pennsylvania State University, will consist of seven rounds on an outdoor range on the south side of the College's new entrance near Campus View Apartments.

Following the arrival of the participants and the event's Opening Ceremonies at 1 p.m. Wednesday, each team will be afforded a practice round on the tournament range.

The first International Archery Federation (FITA) round (9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday morning) will have both the men and women shooting 36 arrows each. The men will shoot from 90 meters and the women at 70 meters. In the afternoon, the second 36-arrow round will begin, with the men paced off at 70 meters and the women sighting at 60 meters.

Later in the day Thursday, the lottery-team round will be held, including the first official team practice. Friday and Saturday each begin with midmorning practice, followed by the third FITA round (men and women, 36 arrows at 50 meters). Friday afternoon, all competitors will sight targets 30 meters away with a 36-arrow allotment.

The Olympic team round will take place (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday) as shooters try for scores that would give them an opportunity at the U.S. national team. Saturday's early practice will be followed by elimination rounds in all divisions.

Teams competing will be: Atlantic CAPE Community College, California State University-Long Beach, Case Western Reserve University, Columbia University, Dine College, Eastern Illinois University, Idaho State University, James Madison University, Kutztown University, Michigan State University, Northeastern State University, Penn College, Penn State, Penn State-Berks, Princeton, Shoreline Community College, Texas A&M University, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, UCLA, University of Dayton, University of Texas-Austin, University of Toledo and Western Montana College.

Penn College is the two-time defending NAA Men's Compound Bow National Champions.