Wolfpack rifle team and 4-H shooting sports leader competes at national event

Martha Hall, N.C. State University rifle team captain and a former Macon County 4-H member, was be one of approximately 70 competitors at the recent 18^th annual National Junior Olympic 3-position Small Bore Rifle Competition. The match was held April 1-4 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The invitation-only event was conducted by USA Shooting, the organization which has oversight for the qualification events for all United States Olympic shooting teams.

Hall’s invitation came as the result of scores fired in the state Junior Olympic match held in Wake County last December.  She was the gold medalist in three-position small bore and silver medalist in international air rifle.

In Colorado Springs, the athletes showcased their skills for Olympic team members and coaches, with first and second place winners receiving a slot on the Junior Development Team, moving them a step closer to qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team.

Hall, of Sylva, is majoring in watershed hydrology at N.C. State. She began competing as a member of the Macon County 4-H shooting sports program, where she served as a teen leader and became a certified rifle instructor.

Although she aged out as a member in January, she still works with the Macon County group and also serves on the 4-H State Shooting Sports committee. The rising senior was this year’s captain for the N.C. State Wolfpack NCAA rifle team, lettering for the past two years, as well as twice being honored as a scholar athlete.