Archery: Australian squad head to NZ for Olympic qualifiers

Australian archer Ryan Tyack. Photo / Getty Images

Fresh from smashing the national record, Queensland archer Ryan Tyack will headline the six-strong Australian squad at the upcoming Olympic qualifying event in New Zealand.

Australia are almost certain to secure one men's and one women's individual spot for the London Games with top-two finishes at the Oceania continental qualifying round in Masterton on January 2.

But the archers chosen to fill those spots won't be decided until the final World Cup round in Ogden, Utah in early June, when Australia will also have one final shot at claiming berths in the Olympic team events.

Tyack, 20, confirmed his status as the rising star of Australian archery when he set a national record of 685 at a rankings event in Queensland earlier this month, smashing the old mark of 678 set several years ago by Sky Kim.

The world record is 693.

"This is a big event for us as we can lock down that Olympic spot," said Tyack.

"And getting one of the last three spots in the team event in Utah later in the year isn't beyond us either.

"There are quite a few strong teams who still haven't booked a spot in London, but that doesn't mean we can't get one of them.

"Our best is up there with the best of them and we've shot scores as good or better than some of these people.

"It will come down to how our form is on the day."

The other members of the Australian men's squad competing in the Oceania qualifying round are triple Olympian Matthew Gray and reigning US Open champion Taylor Worth.

Elisa Barnard, Alice Ingley and newcomer Odette Snazelle will be contesting the women's event in Masterton.

The vastly-experienced Deonne Bridger will not be making the trip to New Zealand, although she remains right in the mix to qualify for a third Olympic campaign in London.

- AAP