Five Classic Divisions, Plus Limited Optics On Display At 2024 USPSA Handgun Nationals

Jake Martens

at USPSA posted on December 10, 2024

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2024 USPSA Handgun Nats 2 — Limited Optics division shooter Jonathan Menocal competing at the 2024 USPSA Handgun Nationals, held at the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park in Talladega, Ala., from Sept. 11-15.

Photo by Jake Martens

What do you get when you combine five classic divisions along with the newest division of USPSA with challenging stages at the CMP Marksmanship Park in Alabama? The 2024 SIG Sauer USPSA Handgun Nationals presented by Vortex.

The CMP Marksmanship Park was the host for this year’s USPSA Handgun Nationals featuring six of the USPSA competition divisions. This was the second year for all of these divisions to be combined into one large National Championship, and a total of 428 competitors hit the range in Talladega, Alabama, from September 11-15.

Clockwise, starting from top: Gregory Clement, Walt Paegel and Sean Griffith. (Photos by Jake Martens)

Match Director Todd Holmes led a crew of stage designers and support staff to build a match to test the skills of the competitors in Single Stack, Limited 10, Revolver, Production, Limited and Limited Optics, keeping it balanced and fair for all divisions—including the low capacity ones.

The competition was stacked, with 262 competitors in the new Limited Optics division making up the largest division at the match. Production followed with 61 and Limited with 44; the two classic divisions—Single Stack and Revolver—had 32 and 20, with Limited 10 rounding it out with only four competitors. Don’t let the numbers fool you—the competition was fierce in Iron Sight division, with many of the top shooters trying to claim the title of National Champion.

The staff hit the range first on September 11-12, followed by three days of competition for the regular competitors. The CMP Marksmanship Park’s Action Pistol Bays are no stranger to USPSA competition. The organization has held USPSA Nationals at the range since 2020 and the World Speed Shooting Championship since 2018. The 15 bays were laid out into three zones to divide the match up over the main three days of competition. Competitors shot the stages in each zone over the three days in either a.m./p.m./a.m. or p.m./a.m./p.m. The match consisted of 16 stages that requires a minimum of 440 rounds, made up of all medium and long courses of fire that required competitors to be up for the physical challenges.

The bays in zones one and two are mirrors of each other as far as their size. All the bays at the CMP Marksmanship Park are large, with each zone having a deep bay. In Zone One, the deep bay was utilized to showcase the vendors and sponsors of this year’s match and was actually a scheduled stop. Limited Optics Sponsor Laugo Arms was set up for competitors to try out their firearms. In addition, stage sponsor Beretta was set up with a side match for all competitors to participate in, with a chance to win a Beretta 92 Langdon Tactical 92.

I’ve witnessed countless matches and seen competitors push themselves beyond their limits. This year’s USPSA Handgun National Championship was no exception, showcasing not just technical prowess and marksmanship but highlighting the deep mental and physical resilience required to compete at such a high level over three grueling days.

Jalise Williams receiving the Single Stack Ladies National Champion award. (Photo by Jake Martens)

One aspect often overlooked is the psychological strain. Over three days of competition, fatigue becomes a formidable opponent. Maintaining focus through more than a dozen courses and hundreds of rounds is challenging, but crucial. The pressure to perform, combined with the unpredictability of split-second decisions, tests even the most seasoned shooters.

Mental resilience comes into play after an inevitable missed target or a malfunction. For competitors, shaking off a mistake and regaining composure is key. It’s here where champions are made, not in their perfection but in their response to imperfection.

There were many eyes on the Limited Optics division to see if Max Leograndis would be defending his title from 2023. This year he had to face off against Christian Sailer, Jacob Hetherington and second place finisher from last year KC Eusebio. The competition in Limited was also something to watch as two young bloods were back at it. Could Scott Brown defend his first ever USPSA Nationals title from Joey Sauerland, while also holding off top competitors John Browning, Shane Coley and Travis Tomasie? This was also the first year to see Production division with a 15-round capacity instead of 10 rounds. Would this make a difference in how Nils Jonasson, JJ Racaza and Mason Lane battled over the next three days?

Absent in the Single Stack competition were Rob Leatham and Doug Koenig, but Dave Sevigny was back this year to shake up the competition in the old workhorse division. Michael Poggie was back to defend his seven consecutive championship titles in Revolver, going for his eighth. He has dominated the division since 2017.

Jessie Harrison would be defending her first-ever Limited Optics Ladies title from 2023 against Morgan Leonhardt, Justine Williams and Mikayla Hill. Glock’s Ashley Robertson would be going after the Ladies’ title in Production division, and Randi Rogers was going to be defending her Ladies Single Stack title from 2023, but would be facing Jalise Williams this year.

The 16 stages were designed to test the full range of a shooter’s skills. Each stage was meticulously crafted to challenge competitors with different target distances, complex movement patterns and precise shot placements. Beyond the physical demand, the stages required strategic decision-making. Competitors had to assess how to approach a stage, manage reloads efficiently, and adapt to changing conditions on the fly. This was more than just shooting; it was a mental chess game, where each move could mean the difference between winning or falling short. This is an outdoor sport, so weather can also be a factor. Last year, competitors faced the cold of fall in Ohio; this year was a mix of rain and overcast that added to the challenge.

John Vlieger won this year’s USPSA Single Stack National Championship title. (Photo by Jake Martens)

A three-day match at the USPSA Nationals isn’t merely a leisurely stroll through the range. Competitors must repeatedly engage in intense physical movements such as sprinting between shooting positions, dropping into low ports, navigating tight barriers and maintaining balance while transitioning from target to target. Even the seemingly simple acts—quickly drawing from a holster, reloading under pressure—become physically taxing after days of repetition.

The sustained physical activity over three days tests endurance. This year's match featured varied weather conditions, adding to the exhaustion factor. It’s not just the external challenges that define the USPSA Nationals, however; it’s the internal battle. Watching competitors fight through these moments is witnessing the essence of the sport. Their drive, grit and determination were palpable throughout the competition. Those who rose to the top were the ones who managed to synchronize body and mind, responding not only with skill but with a composed resilience.

Zone one consisted of five stages with three long courses and two medium courses, worth 680 points. This zone also had the Chronograph stage paired with Stage 1, as well as the Vendor Demo bay as a stop. The big bays at the CMP Marksmanship Park allow for lots of big stages, which means plenty of movement and shooting positions.

Stage 1 kicked it off with 13 IPSC targets and six steel for a total of 32 rounds worth 160 points. Shane Coley took his first stage win in Limited on this stage with a run of 17.55—one hundredth of a second faster than Scott Brown’s time of 17.56 seconds, with 156 points shot compared to Brown’s 153. In addition, JJ Racaza shot this stage in 16.85 seconds for a stage win in Production division.

Stage 2 was a 31-round stage with an activated swinger worth 155 points. The shooting area was laid out in a Y shape and gave several options based on capacity on how competitors would work through the target arrays. In Single Stack, John Vlieger took advantage shooting major, pushing a little hard on speed with a 21.23-second run and taking the stage win. Poggie grabbed the Revolver stage win with a 26.74-second time shooting 149 points.

Max Leograndis wasted no time in Limited Optics on Stage 3’s 31-round long course with 13 IPSC targets and five steel. His 19.13-second time was the fastest on this “start anywhere in the shooting area” stage with several options that also included an activated target. Morgan Leonhardt took the stage win here in Limited Optics over Justine Williams. Leonhardt’s 24.61-second run was slower than Williams’ 22.87, but Leonhardt shot 145 points over Williams 133.

One of the smaller stages was up next, with only 22 rounds worth 110 points. This was a choppy stage with hard target engagements through double ports. Ashley Robertson ran it in 19.11 seconds for a Ladies Production stage win. Racaza was not letting up on Day One with another impressive run, taking another stage win. Stage 5 finished out Zone one, a Fixed Time stage worth 100 points. There were 10 USPSA targets with a "start anywhere in the shooting area.” Fixed time is a math problem—how many points can you shoot in the allowed time? Do you push hard to get all your shots off, or do you try for the best hits and maybe give up a target or two for better points? On this stage, the plan was either go for it or give up one target. Racaza shot 96 of the available 100 for another stage win, taking the lead in Production on Day one. Joey Sauerland tied with Johnathon Miller with 97 points shot.

Limited Optics division shooter Jordan Scott competing at the 2024 USPSA Handgun Nationals. (Photo by Jake Martens)

On the second day of competition, Zone Two had 760 points up for grabs. Racaza and Sailer had jumped out in their divisions after Day One. Along with them was Vlieger in Single Stack, and Poggie was on cruise control in Revolver. Day Two, however, was going to be a wet one. The rain came in and had the a.m. squads shooting in it all morning long. Weather conditions are part of the game, and preparing yourself mentally and physically for this can give a competitor the edge. Tight shots on bagged targets, movement through a wet slushy shooting area, bad grip on a wet gun, missed reloads—everything adds up.

Stage 6 was worth 155 points with 12 IPSC targets and seven steel, one of which activated a moving target. The start was anywhere in the shooting area and there were many options and plans that the competitors came up with to tackle this large course of fire. Even with a no-shoot penalty on this stage, Poggie’s 32.85-second run to start Day Two grabbed him another stage win. The top five Limited shooters all ran this stage in 26 and change, but Robert Krogh’s 148 points shot earned him a stage win. For the ladies, Leonhardt was on the p.m. schedule for Day Two and had a dryer run here, taking a stage win in Limited Optics.

The 160-point 32-round long course with 12 USPSA targets and eight steel waited for the competitors on Stage 7. Here, you were going from one side of the bay to the other across the back and then up one side and down the other to engage all the targets. There was lots of movement and lots of side-to-side transitions to get through this stage. Jacob Hetherington was almost two seconds faster than everyone else in Limited Optics, shooting 148 of the points in 20.23 seconds for a stage win. Sevigny, shooting minor, was four points off of Vlieger’s stage win in Single Stack.

Stage 8 featured a downrange start, with 145 points up for grabs. There were 13 IPSC targets and three steel, one that activated a mover. From the start position, competitors could take two of the steel, activate the mover and pick up cardboard targets, or get the mover going and engage it from an uprange position. Capacity played a role in your options on this stage. Mason Lane was just a little faster than Racaza and with better points, for a stage win in Production.

Stage 9 introduced a table start. Unfortunately for the morning competitors, they were going to have to deal with the rain. Limited Optics shooters were trying to come up with ways to cover their optics on the start; several set their optics cover on the dot to help shield it from the rain, but no matter what, they had to deal with rain droplets on their glass. Hetherington grabbed another stage win here with a 14.50-second run. Iron sight shooters giggled at the optics folks and Scott Brown grabbed a stage win in Limited with a slightly slower run than Sauerland but 147 points compared to 143 shot by Joey.

Limited Optics competitor Trevon Barber shooting at the 2024 USPSA Handgun Nationals. (Photo by Jake Martens)

The large diamond-shaped shooting area with 13 IPSC targets and four steel made up Stage 10 and finished out this zone for the day. There was an activated target from the front position and hard setups on both the far back right and left sides of the stage. Brown took another stage win here in Limited over Blake Miguez, and Henning Wallgren grabbed this in Single Stack over Jeff Cawthon with a 23.91-second run.

The rain had slowed down as the day progressed and was gone by the end of Day Two. Of the three days of competition, Zone Three had the most points available, with 760 on the line. After two days of competition there were starting to be some predictions based on the leaders in each division, but until you get to the last stage things are close enough to change quickly. The Super Squads for the divisions had to wait until Sunday afternoon to start shooting, with 24 hours between finishing on Saturday and when they start shooting again on Sunday. That is a lot of time to reflect on two days of competition, how they are stacking up and what they need to do to finish the match. There is time to check your gear and walk stages—and time to overthink, focus on mistakes and start to play mind games with yourself.

Stage 11 was worth 150 points with 13 IPSC targets and four steel. The stage was a mirror-image type with the right and left sides being the same type of target engagement, with some tight shots through ports on either side. There were many starts and stops, with hard set ups and not much to shoot on the move; you have to hit those points, get in and get out but not sacrifice accuracy and drop points. James McGinty was shooting minor in Single Stack, taking a stage win with a 20.50-second run. Scott Brown’s Limited stage win to start the third day was an impressive 17.95-second run over Sauerland with 19.41 seconds for a second place on this stage. For these two the race was tight.

A stage with many options for every division with no real one way better than other is always tricky to design. You think you might have it and then squads come through and find “the way;” however, that was not the case on Stage 12. It was probably shot about as many different ways as a stage possibly could be. Gorka Ibanez ran this in 22.50 seconds shooting 138 of the available 145 points for a stage win in Limited over Sauerland and Brown. Sailer grabbed the stage win here in Limited Optics, as did Leonhardt on the ladies’ side. Alex Bakken didn’t have the fastest run in Revolver but took the win shooting the most points.

Racaza was sitting with a nice lead on Day Three; however, the rest of the Production shooters were not going to take it easy on him. Nils Jonasson took the stage win away from him on Stage 13 with a 17.06-second run on this 29-round 145-point stage. There were two low ports that would require competitors to get into a low squat in order to engage the targets.

Stages 14 and 15 shared a bay and were both the two smallest courses of fire for the match. Stage 14 was 17 rounds with 85 points up for grabs and Stage 15 was worth 80 points on the 16-round course of fire. Both stages had difficult target arrays with tight shots, and were where competitors could easily crash and burn by pushing too hard. Racaza won both to set him up for not having to try to win the match on the final stage. Vlieger took Stage 14 but gave up Stage 15 to Tim Herron in Single Stack.

Stage 16 would end the match and Zone Three, a 31-round, 155-point stage with another “anywhere in the shooting area” start. There were two activated targets, a swinger and bobber, both activated by separate steel and were at about 20 yards downrange. The stage was laid out in a T-shaped shooting area with hard stops and tight shots. There were plenty of spots to forget a target, or overshoot a position, causing the seconds to add up. While Joey Sauerland didn’t win the stage, he took a second spot to Blake Miguez; it was going to be enough to grab a Limited division victory over Scott Brown, who struggled with two misses on their final stage of the match. Sailer proved once again that he can dominate in any division he goes after, grabbing a Limited Optics title at this year match. JJ Racaza finally chased down that Production win that had eluded him the last few years, winning 10 of the 16 stages. John Vlieger battled through this match against some of the top Single Stack shooters, taking his first-ever USPSA National Championship win. Michael Poggie grabbed his eighth National Championship in Revolver, continuing his dominance in all things wheelgun.

Ashley Robertson picked up the Ladies National Champion title in Production. Morgan Leonhardt won another Ladies Champion title in Limited Optics and Jalise Williams, who was fifth overall in Single Stack, grabbed another Ladies Championship title this year.

Limited division shooter Gorka Ibanez competing at the 2024 USPSA Handgun Nationals. (Photo by Jake Martens)

The USPSA community is built on the tireless dedication of its volunteers, whose commitment and passion for the sport are the backbone of every event. From early mornings setting up stages to long days ensuring that matches run smoothly and fairly, these volunteers are the unsung heroes who keep the heart of USPSA beating strong. Their roles range from range officers and match directors to scorekeepers and support staff, each contributing their time and expertise purely for the love of the sport. Without their unwavering dedication, the logistics of organizing and executing large-scale events like the USPSA Handgun Nationals would be insurmountable. These devoted individuals make it possible for competitors to test their skills and for the USPSA to continue growing and thriving, embodying the spirit of camaraderie and excellence that defines the organization.

In the end, the 2024 USPSA Handgun Nationals underscored a truth we often forget: success in USPSA isn’t just about speed and accuracy. It’s about stamina, strategic thought and the ability to conquer one’s own doubts and fatigue. Every competitor who stepped up to the line this year should be proud, knowing they faced challenges that tested them in every possible way.

The USPSA community thrives because of this shared pursuit—pushing limits and embracing the journey of both mental and physical endurance. This year’s USPSA Handgun Nationals was a testament to that spirit, showcasing what it truly means to be a competitive shooter in our sport.