Day Three: The 2017 Mid Atlantic 6400
With the metallic sight match completed scopes came out of their boxes and the Mid Atlantic took on a new flavor. As expected 400s bloomed like desert wild flowers after a rain storm. The handsomely mustachioed George Harris jumped to the fore with a near perfect 400-39X at 50 yards. Justin Tracy was in second with a 400-38X, sandwiched in between Harris’ 39X and Ken Benyo’s 37X. Benyo third place was on a tiebreaker with Kevin Nevius, who had racked four third place finishes on day two. Things were tight as the next four competitors, Paul Gideon, Billy Marciniak, Reya Kempley, and James Krilich kept the stat office thumbing through the rule book to break the four way 400-36X tie.
Kevin Mulligan’s 400-37X was top in the Expert class while Victoria Benyo had a 400-31X to take combined class honors.
Harris built in his 50 yard momentum and rolled into first place in the Meter Match with a 400-37X, a single X in front of Reya Kempley. Glen Hewitt emerged from the pack and found himself in third place after firing a 400-34X. Matt McHale had the only 400 in the Expert class and Victoria Benyo won her second match of the day in combined.
Nevius struck in the Dewar, 400-38X, besting Kempley and Tracy who both recorded 37 X cleans. A quick look at the rules saw Kempley in second and Tracy in third. A third new face showed up at the top of the Expert class as Michael Geisecke bested all competition un that class. Victoria Benyo tightened her hold on combined with her third win of the day.
Ken Benyo went clean, 400-36X, for the fourth time winning both the 100 Yard Match and the day with a 1600-139X. Bill Berkert bested Nevius for second with a 400-32X. The Ohio rifleman’s 400-31X notched his eighth third place finish in three days. McHale led the Experts and Michael Flucke finally broke Victoria Benyo’s grip in combined.
Kenny Benyo’s match winning 1600 was followed by four 1599s. Nevius broke out of his third place rut with a second place 1599-140X. Kempley out dueled Harris and took third, shooting a 1599-138X, ahead by three Xs. Geisecke took Expert honors with a two point lead over his nearest competition. Having won three of four, Victoria Benyo was a lock to win the day in the combined class.
