McPhail Takes National Men's Prone Rifle Title

FT. BENNING, GEORGIA - The 2009 USA Shooting National Championships for Rifle and Pistol concluded at Ft. Benning's International Shooting Complex in Columbus, Ga., home of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) with Michael McPhail (Darlington, Wis.) winning the Men's 50m Prone Rifle event.

The USAMU dominated again today with teammates McPhail, Eric Uptagrafft (Spokane, Wash.) and Jason Parker (Omaha, Neb.) taking the top three spots in Men's Prone. McPhail finished in first place after firing 1194 points in the qualification and 104.5 points in the final to end with 1298.5 points. In a tight race for the second and third spots, 1996 Olympian Uptagrafft ended up in second place with 1295.2 points and three-time Olympian Parker finished right behind him in third with 1295.1

Dempster Christenson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) claimed the national title in the Junior Men's Prone Rifle event after finishing with a total score of 1284.3 points. Samuel Muegge (Boling, Texas) took second place with 1283.3 and Michael Liuzza (New Orleans, La.) finished third with 1282.8.

For complete National Championship results as well as a detailed competition schedule, please visit USA Shooting's website at www.usashooting.org.

Contact:
Mary Beth Vorwerk (719( 866) 4896 or MaryBeth.Vorwerk@usashooting.org