Still On Target
SLIPPERY ROCK — Heather Stewart broke the Pennsylvania State Archery Association's indoor women's unlimited AA record three months ago in Harrisburg.
She's still on target.
Stewart, 40, of Slippery Rock recently returned from New Kingston, Pa., where she won the State Target championship in the female unlimited division — and set another state record as well.
“I didn't even know what the record was,” Stewart said. “I had heard it was crazy high, so I didn't even worry about it.
“One of my friends asked what I shot and when I told her, she said I broke the state record. I couldn't believe it.”
Stewart shot a 1,151 Saturday, shattering the previous record of 1,121. The highest possible score is 1,200.
“To break the state record by 30 points is impressive,” said Tom Kennedy, her father. He competed at the State Target Championships as well.
The competition entailed shooting 30 arrows at a target from 80 yards away, then 30 arrows from 65 yards out. The archer then shoots 30 arrows at a smaller target from 55 and 35 yards away.
“I have been reading books on mental imagery, focusing in on the shooting process and that's definitely made a difference,” Stewart said.
Kennedy, 63, won his first national archery title at Aurora, Ill., in 1978. He had not competed for nearly 20 years before returning to the sport a year ago. He placed second in the senior-plus division at the State Archery Championships.
Kennedy and Stewart plan to compete in the NFAA Nationals in Mechanicsburg in about a month.
“This will be Heather's first nationals,” her father said. “Last year's nationals were in South Dakota, a little too far for us to go.
“Since it's close to home this year, we're going for it. This will be the first time I've competed at nationals with my daughter and the way she's shooting, she's got a chance to win it. That would be awesome.”
The pair will compete at a Field and Hunter regional tournament in Franklin in two weeks. A week after that, they will compete in the state's Field and Hunter Tournament in Mechanicsburg.
The NFAA Nationals are at the same site in Mechanicsburg the following week.
These next few tournaments will be radically different for Stewart.
“These events involve 3-D paper animal targets in the woods,” she said. “I've been shooting for 28 years and I've never done Field and Hunter targets. There will be a definite learning curve for me.”
She plans to practice hard over the next couple of weeks.
“It's still shooting arrows, but now you're shooting uphill, downhill, on the side of hills, toward the target,” Stewart said. “It's a different experience.
“I hope to do well, but this is not the same thing, for sure.”
Like her father, Stewart appreciates going to competitions together.
“It's super fun,” she said. “It's nice to get together during the summer, during the winter ... We bond. We re-connect.”
