Mariel Zagunis Wins Dallas WC

Mariel Zagunis defended home turf and took home her 4th world cup victory of the season, solidifying her position at the top of the points standings heading into regional competition later in the month.

Zagunis defeated Leonore Perrus 15-9 in the final match.  In the semi-finals she defeated Ekaterina Diatchenko (RUS) 15-11.

{sidebar id=1}Team Gold Medal winner Olga Kharlan (UKR) looked to be destined for the finals as she bested her first three opponents with a combined 45-20 with none of them scoring in the double-digits against her.  Kharlan met her match in France’s Perrus who took out the #4 seed 15-11.

#1 seed and 2nd ranked Sophia Velikaia was dispatched in the round of 32 by 2000 Olympian Emily Jacobson 15-14.  Jacobson then lost 14-15 to 17th seed Emma Baratta.  If Emily is thinking of going for London 2012, this is a good way to start on the comeback trail.

The USA, France and the Ukraine each placed two fencers in the top 8.  The US, Italy, and Russia also had 3 fencers finish in the top 16 at the event.

Since winning the Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing, Zagunis has won 4 of the 7 world cup events she has entered and her worst finish is 5th place during the February Grand Prix event in Moscow.

Notables: Chinese fencer Xue Tan did not compete.  Eileen Grench took 16th representing Panama.

US Team Selection:

Just as the men’s sabre squad for the World Championships was to be determined by final placement in Dallas, so too are the final slots for the Women’s Sabre team.

Entering the Dallas World Cup, Mariel Zagunis and Dagmara Wozniak were locks for the US team.  The door was open for Caroline Vloka or Alexis Jemal to pass Monica Aksamit and Daria Schneider.  Even though Emma Baratta had a great day and finished 8th, she was too far behind in the team point standings for that to count.  Vloka and Jemal also needed to make the 8 in order to gain enough points to pass Aksamit and Schneider, so the four for the world championships looks to be set at Zagunis, Wozniak, Aksamit, and Schneider.

Final Results: