Alfred State Wins 2026 Clay Target Title
Alfred State claimed the team championship at the 2026 USA College Clay Target League National Championships in Bunker Hill, Illinois, on a tiebreaker.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Track & Field
Alfred State tied Lake Land College of Illinois with 962 points and took the team title on a tiebreaker at the 2026 USA College Clay Target League National Championships. The competition featured 185 shooters from more than 25 colleges.
Why it matters
The win marks a rapid rise for Alfred State's program, which finished fifth in 2023, 10th in 2024 and sixth in 2025 before claiming the national title in its fourth year of competition. It underscores the growing depth of collegiate clay target shooting in New York.
Alfred State's 962-point total matched Lake Land College of Illinois, with Valley City State University of North Dakota finishing third at 955 points. Justin Jerome of Boston, N.Y., led Alfred State with a score of 199 and finished second overall among the 185 competitors.
The players
Alfred State
Alfred State is a public college in Alfred, New York, part of the State University of New York system, whose clay target program competes in collegiate shooting leagues.
Lake Land College
Lake Land College is a public community college in Mattoon, Illinois, whose shooting team finished tied with Alfred State at the 2026 national championship.
Justin Jerome
Justin Jerome is a shooter from Boston, New York, who led Alfred State with an individual score of 199 and finished second overall at the championship.
The details
The 2026 USA College Clay Target League National Championships were held in Bunker Hill, Illinois, with more than 25 colleges represented. Seventeen colleges fielded the minimum five shooters required to record a team score.
Timeline
2023: Alfred State finished fifth at the national championships.
2024: Alfred State finished 10th at the national championships.
2025: Alfred State finished sixth at the national championships.
2026: Alfred State won the national team championship.
Season Trajectory
Alfred State's climb from fifth in 2023 to national champion in 2026 reflects steady gains within the USA College Clay Target League, which drew 185 shooters from more than 25 colleges this year. The title shifts the competitive balance among collegiate programs that have traditionally dominated the national field.
Alfred State's championship adds a new name to the national collegiate clay target standings, and the team score margins show how narrowly the top three programs finished. Fans following collegiate shooting can track the program's results in future league seasons.
The takeaway
Alfred State's rise from fifth place to national champion in four years shows how quickly a collegiate shooting program can build depth and win the top team title in the USA College Clay Target League.
Further reading
For more on collegiate athletic competition across the state, see Track & Field coverage for New York.
