Local Woman Qualifies for Olympic Skeet Shooting in Rio de Janeiro

STROUDSBURG, Pa. (WTXF)- A local woman is a modern-day Annie Oakley. She recently qualified for Olympic skeet shooting in Rio de Janeiro.

FOX 29 Photojournalist Bill Rohrer has her story.

For 22-year-old Morgan Craft there is nothing better than hitting a 110 clay pigeon.

"As soon as the target goes out we just approach the front edge and pull the trigger." Morgan said. "It is a lot of hand eye coordination."

She says she will shoot about 6 to 10 boxes or rounds per day, which adds up to about 33,000 rounds..

"It is not a cheap sport." Morgan explained. "A lot of it is on your own, so gas money paying for targets, paying for shells, it really adds up."

Five days a week, Morgan comes to work to practice her event called Olympic Skeet. She is currently the number two Olympic Skeet shooter in the world.

To guarantee herself a spot at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil she will have to first win a world title.

"I had to make the top 6 first of all, then make the final," she explained.

Morgan and teammate Caitlin Conner prepared to hit their last 16 targets. Whoever won would be a World Champion and compete for gold in Rio. With the competition tied with just 4 targets to go, Caitlin missed her last two targets. All Morgan had to do was hit 3 out of 4 . With extreme focus and concentration Morgan won.

"When I returned home the next day, they were actually over 50 people there probably closer to 100 people waiting in Williamsport airport for me to return with like flags and banners. It was so amazing." recalled Morgan. "Total surprise I never expected it at all.

Morgan has 10 months before the next Olympics. For now, her focus is out lasting her dog Shadow in a game of fetch.