Young shooters and coaches from left, Chris Bond, Alan Bond, Josh Smith, David Smith, JoAnna O’Neill, Mike O’Neill, Chris Luchini, Kes Luchini and Kathy Smith. Photo by Katie Hoyne

SPORTS News:

Five Los Alamos High School students competed in the National Junior Olympic Shooting Championships last week in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Chris Bond, Kes Luchini, JoAnna O’Neill, David Smith and Josh Smith participated in the shotgun event, which consisted of one day of training and two days of competition with shooters from all over the United States. Coaches Mike O’Neill, Kathy Smith, Chris Luchini and Alan Bond travelled with the shooters who are sponsored by the Los Alamos Sportsman’s Club.

According to Mike O’Neill, youth programs director for the Sportsman’s Club, the students shot International Bunker Trap and were required to follow the Olympic Training Regimen as if they were shooting in an Olympic competition. The Los Alamos competitors have been shooting bunker trap for two years. The Sportsman’s Club hosted the qualifier events for the state of New Mexico for the past two years.

“Our shooters represented New Mexico very well against athletes from some 22 states,” O’Neill said. “They held their own against young shooters from very developed programs from Alaska to Florida.”