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COLUMBIA — Haley Dunn, a senior at MU from Eddyville, Iowa, is a competitive skeet shooter with Olympic hopes. A skeet shooter uses a shotgun to break fast-moving clay discs flung into the air from different directions.
Haley was a member of the U.S. team in 2002 as an alternate. She’s majoring in business management and economics.
When did you begin shooting?
When I was 7, sporting clays when I was 12 and skeet for the U.S. at 15.
Why?
My dad opened a range when I was 10. I was doomed to be a skeet shooter — not that that’s a bad thing.
The coolest place competition has taken you is …
Cairo, Egypt, or Dubai. Dubai was really extravagant. My favorite place, though, was Italy.
Your favorite aspect of skeet shooting?
Competition. I’m definitely a competitive person. I also enjoy the camaraderie. I spend one to two weeks every month with people on the U.S. team.
Your superstitions?
I always had a cross my dad used to give me before every competition. Now that I’m on my own, I have it.
I keep it in my earplug case on my vest. I also wear red for every competition because wearing bright colors increases confidence.
What is the possibility you’ll represent the country next summer in the Olympic Games?
I want to make it, but I don’t want to build it up too much. Four years ago, I was the first alternate for the games in Athens. I went, but I didn’t get to compete.
What do you do in your spare time?
Hunting and fishing. When I have time, I like to golf, but I’m terrible. It’s also nice to see friends and family and do “normal stuff,” like go to Mizzou football games.
If you could participate in any other Olympic sport, you’d choose …
Archery.
If you could invite any three people to dinner, they would be …
My mom, my dad and my sister. Family always comes first.
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