Sophomore Sarah Scherer’s gold medal win at the 2011 ISSF World Cup in Changwon, Korea, on Sunday gave the United States Air Rifle team its first quota in the event, which could earn the team a spot at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Scherer won a gold medal in the 10m Air Rifle. She earned a spot in the 10-shot finals after shooting a 398 to tie for first with Poland’s Agnieszka Nagay. Scherer took the lead after the second final shot and held on to that lead for the remaining eight shots. Her final score of 501.5 topped Nagay by one full point.

It was the first time Scherer qualified for the final round in a World Cup event and was even more impressive since her score of 398 in the qualifier was her highest score fired in a World Cup event.

Before heading to the Changwon World Cup, the U.S. had yet to win a 2012 Olympic Quota in Women’s Air Rifle event. Scherer’s finish gave the U.S. its first quota in the event for the 2012 Olympics.

However, the quota is solely for the U.S. team. Individuals still will have to qualify for the Olympic team in the U.S. Olympic Tryouts.