Army Sgt. Sagen Maddalena of the United States raises her fist in celebration during the 50m rifle 3 positions women’s qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Chateauroux, France. Maddalena scored 593 points out of a possible 600 and leads after qualifying. (Kulani Lakanaria/U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit)

CHATEAUROUX, France — Army Sgt. Sagen Maddalena entered the Chateauroux Shooting Centre on Thursday morning not feeling that confident.

While training for the women’s 50-meter rifle three-position the day before, her results didn’t meet her standards. She hoped it wasn’t foreshadowing for Thursday afternoon’s qualification round.

To remove that from her mind, Maddalena found a corner, paced a bit and tried to clear her head.

“I wasn’t getting discouraged about it, but it was a little something in my head, a little bit of doubt,” Maddalena said. “I was able to put that aside, and this morning even though I wasn’t sure, I knew my job I had to do.”

The 30-year-old sharpshooter not only advanced to Friday morning’s final — she headed the field of 32 shooters. Maddalena scored 593 points out of a possible 600, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks alumna also amassed the highest bull’s-eye total of 45.

That gave Maddalena the edge over China’s Qiongyue Zhang, who finished with the same points but had 40 bull’s-eyes.

Because rule changes that included the number of shots and the weapons used in the event wiped the Olympic record book clean this year, Maddalena established a new Olympic qualifying record.

Army Sgt. Sagen Maddalena of the United States competes in the 50m rifle 3 positions women’s qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Chateauroux, France. (Kulani Lakanaria/U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit)

Army Sgt. Sagen Maddalena of the United States competes in the 50m rifle 3 positions women’s qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Chateauroux, France. (Kulani Lakanaria/U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit)

“It’s a big success, I’m proud of it, but the work’s not done,” Maddalena said.

She finished the kneeling position with 198 points and 17 bull’s-eyes, putting her in third place after 20 shots.

Then the 5-foot-4 Groveland, Calif., native composed a perfect series in the prone position with 200. Maddalena mowed through her shots at a rapid pace and strung together 13 consecutive bull’s-eyes before one shot missed the dead center ring of the target.

Maddalena found herself in first place at that point, and everyone seemed to notice, as photographers present turned their lenses toward the American.

The standing position proved troublesome — at least in relation to the other two. She posted 195 points over the 20 shots.

Only four competitors — Switzerland’s Chiara Leone, who placed third overall; Mongolia’s Yesugen Oyunbat (fourth); Poland’s Natalia Kochanska (sixth) and Denmark’s Rikke Maeng Ibsen (14th) — eclipsed Maddalena’s standing total.

Army Sgt. Sagen Maddalena of the United States competes in the 50m rifle 3 positions women’s qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Chateauroux, France. (Kulani Lakanaria/U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit)

The shooters dealt with windy conditions throughout the round. Gusts sometimes silenced the range as competitors adjusted or waited for stillness.

Maddalena downplayed the elements, saying worse conditions exist.

“OK, it was windy, but it was consistent. So, it was readable,” Maddalena said. “ … the gusts came through but they didn’t push the body, and that’s a big thing. So, I was able to maintain control of myself and all I had to do was stay patient about when to take the shot, when to wait, when to take another hold.”

So Maddalena and seven others turn their attentions to Friday’s final.

For her, it’s a chance to make her first Olympic podium after finishing fifth in the Tokyo Games in the event and fourth Monday in the 10-meter air rifle final in Paris.

She has USA Shooting’s best chance so far to end its medal drought at the Paris Olympics.

She said she’s focusing on the controllables.

“It’s a clean slate tomorrow. Everyone starts from zero,” Maddalena said. “Tomorrow is just going to be what I can control, taking ahold of that and riding the high.”

Army Sgt. Sagen Maddalena of the United States competes in the 50m rifle 3 positions women’s qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Chateauroux, France. (Kulani Lakanaria/U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit)