Ever wondered what it’s like to shoot at a trials event for a place on the US team?

Oklahoma archer Abby Reed from the T-Town Drillers JOAD, tells us a little about her experience at the 2026 USA Archery Field Nationals and World Archery Field Championships US Team Trials.

A Fifth-Place Finish at the 2026 USA Archery Field Nationals and World Cup Trials!

Competing at the 2026 USA Archery Field Nationals and World Archery Field Championships U.S. Team Trials in Yankton, South Dakota, was an experience that tested every part of my shooting. From judging unknown distances to executing shots at known distances, every arrow mattered. After two challenging days of field archery, I was proud to finish 5th overall.

The competition brought together some of the best archers in the country. The Field Nationals and U.S. Team Trials were held at the NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center from June 3–6, with the field competition featuring both unmarked and marked-distance rounds.

Day One: The Challenge of Unknown Distance
The first day was all about unknown distances. This was one of the biggest tests of the competition because there was no exact distance given to rely on. I had to judge each target, study the terrain, consider the angle and elevation, and trust my ability to estimate the distance before committing to the shot. Field archery is much different from simply standing on a range and shooting at a known target distance. The natural terrain can change everything. Uphill and downhill shots, uneven footing, changing light, shadows and different target sizes all require an archer to make adjustments.
The unknown-distance day required me to stay mentally focused from the first target to the last. A small mistake in judging a distance could mean losing valuable points. Instead of worrying about a shot after it was finished, I had to reset, focus on the next target and continue moving forward.
By the end of the first day, I knew I had put myself in a position to compete for a strong finish. There was still another full day ahead, and I knew I needed to stay consistent.

Day Two: Known Distance
The second day brought a completely different challenge: known distances. Knowing the distance removed one variable, but it did not make the course easy. I still had to deal with angles, terrain, target sizes and the pressure of competing at a national-level event. With the distance already provided, the focus shifted more toward execution—making a clean shot, maintaining my form and putting each arrow where I wanted it.
The official selection format called for a 24-target unmarked field round and a 24-target marked field round, with the two qualification scores combined.
Going into the second day, I knew every point could make a difference in the overall standings. My goal was to stay composed and shoot one arrow at a time rather than getting caught up in the leaderboard.

Finishing 5th Overall
When the final scores were calculated, I finished 5th overall. Finishing fifth at an event of this level is something I am extremely proud of. It showed me that I could compete against some of the strongest archers in the country and perform under pressure. More importantly, the competition taught me a lot about my own shooting. The unknown-distance round challenged my ability to judge distance and trust my instincts, while the known-distance round tested my ability to execute consistently once the distance was no longer a variable.

More Than Just a Placement.
The 5th-place finish is more than just a number on a results sheet. It represents the time spent practicing, preparing, traveling and learning from every shot.Competing at the USA Archery Field Nationals and World Archery Field Championships U.S. Team Trials gave me the opportunity to experience what high-level field archery is really about. The event was not only a test of accuracy, but also of patience, confidence, decision-making and mental toughness.I walked away from the competition proud of finishing 5th overall, but also motivated to keep improving. There are always things that can be better—another distance to judge, another shot to execute and another lesson to learn.

This competition reminded me that success in archery is not about shooting one perfect round. It is about staying focused through every target, trusting your preparation and continuing to fight for every point until the final arrow. Finishing 5th overall at the 2026 USA Archery Field Nationals and World Cup Trials was a major accomplishment, and it is a result that motivates me to keep working toward the next level.