Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center / 73kg) won his third international medal in as many weeks, picking up three wins to earn gold in San Salvador. Among his victories, Reser defeated Less Arbaiza (GUA) in the final. Reser and Arbaiza last fought three weeks ago when Reser earned one of the day’s biggest throws over the Guatemalan en route to winning his second Pan American title.

Reser’s Pan Am teammate Kirk Hoffmann (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) also won gold, taking the +100kg title after winning bronze two weeks ago at the Pan Ams in Montreal.

Two-time Pan Am Champion Taylor Takata (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen) won the 66kg title in his competition since finishing second at the Senior Nationals in April.

Erik Duus (Saratoga, Calif. / Stanford Judo), a fifth-place finisher at the Senior Nationals, won his first international title, taking gold at 90kg.

Davor Vasiljevic (81kg) and Corinne Geier (63kg), both of the USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University in San Jose, Calif., each won bronze medals in El Salvador.

As athletes prepare for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Judo, June 13-14 in Las Vegas, three athletes’ wins moved each of them into top eight U.S. rankings in their respective division with the top eight athletes as of April 12, 2008 receiving invitations to the Trials.

Duus and Geier will each move into the #7 slot in their respective divisions on the next USA Judo Senior Elite National Roster. Vasiljevic will move into the #8 ranking at 81kg.

For more information, contact Nicole Jomantas, USA Judo Director of Communications and Media Relations, at 719.271.9937 (cell) or Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us.