The 27-year-old shot a qualification score of 628.5 at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre and his teammate Dane Sampson, who is competing at his fourth consecutive Olympic Games, shot a qualification score of 626.9 to finish in 30th place.

Australia has competed in the men's 10m Air Rifle at every Olympic Games since 1988 and the previous Australian best came from Phil Adams, 19th at Barcelona 1992.

Dane and Jack had 75 minutes during qualification to fire 60 shots down the 10m range, their ultimate aim a .5mm centre point inside the 80mm target.

“The qualification score is the best I have shot at an Olympic Games in the 10m Air Rifle event,” Dane said.

“My self-management during the competition was really good and I could definitely feel the years of experience paying off and allowing me to understand what is important in the present moment.

“My previous experience also allowed me to enjoy the competition the right way and benefit me going into my second event.”

The top qualification score in today’s event was from world record holder Lihao Sheng from China who shot a score of 631.7.

The final will be contested on Monday, with 629.8 being the cut off score to make the eight-man final.
Jack and Dane will now prepare for the 50m Rifle 3 Positions in their second and final competition of this Games on Wedensday 31 July.

Day three of competition kicks off the shotgun events with Australians Mitchell Iles and world number two James Willett in the first day of Men’s Trap.