Outdoor Target Nationals Close 2026 with Record Scores and Championship Finishes

The NFAA Outdoor Target Nationals brought 225 archers representing 34 states to the NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center August 29 and 30 for two days of target competition, culminating in several closely contested national championships.

Competition consisted of a Classic 600 Round on Saturday, followed by a 900 Round on Sunday. Adult archers competed at 40, 50 and 60 yards, with the Classic 600 shot on a 92 cm target face and the 900 Round using a 122 cm target face. Cubs shot their rounds from 10, 20, and 30 yards, and Youth archers shot from 30, 40 and 50 yards. The format challenged competitors to maintain consistency as they moved between distances and target sizes throughout the two-day competition.

Sunday added another significant challenge as temperatures climbed to nearly 100 degrees. Archers had to manage the heat, sun and outdoor conditions while maintaining their focus and precision at distances up to 60 yards. At the end of the weekend, the new national champions were awarded one of the most iconic trophies in archery, an NFAA silver bowl.

A Championship Decided by the Final Arrow

The Professional Adult Male Freestyle division produced one of the weekend's most exciting finishes. Stephan Hansen and Ace Coleman battled through the competition and finished tied in points, forcing a shoot-off at 60 yards to determine the national champion.

The two archers remained tied through the first two arrows, sending the championship to the third and final arrow. The title was ultimately decided by the arrow closest to center, with Hansen edging Coleman to claim the national championship in a hard-fought battle that went down to the final shot.

Division Highlights

The Outdoor Target Nationals featured strong performances across divisions, including several standout scores and close finishes.

Professional Adult Female Freestyle: Paige Pearce tied two national records en route to the national championship, finishing with an outstanding score of 1,495.
Young Adult Female Freestyle: 16-year-old Chloe Nelsen rewrote the record books with three national records, shooting an incredible 1,495. Her score was the highest amateur score of the event and tied Pearce for the highest female score across the competition.
Cub Female Freestyle: Brooklynn Wellman delivered an exceptional 1,494, putting together one of the highest scores of the entire event.
Professional Senior Male Freestyle: Tim Audus edged Lynn Hoch by one point to claim the national championship. The one-point victory also earned Audus the 2026 Professional Senior Shooter of the Year award.
Master Senior Male Barebow Compound: A thrilling finish saw Ronnie St. Clair and Jay Lindsey both finish with 1,172 points after 150 arrows, but St. Clair ultimately secured the national championship by recording the highest number of hits.

the culmination of 2026

The Outdoor Target Nationals marked the culmination of the 2026 NFAA event calendar. The year began in Indianapolis at the Rushmore Rumble and took archers across the country, with stops in Memphis, Las Vegas, Redding, Yankton and many places in between for national, state and sectional events.

From record-breaking scores and standout performances to the moments shared on the range, 2026 was a year filled with memorable competition across the NFAA. We look forward to building on the momentum from this year and making 2027 even better. We will see you in January!

Tournament Results

Event Pictures