PIRU, Calif. - Team Smith & Wesson's Phil Strader of Owasso, Okla. captured the Iron Sight Rimfire title yesterday at the 2010 Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships in Piru,Calif.

Strader won five of the eight stages in the match to finish with a final time of 83.35 seconds - 4.8 seconds faster than the runner up, Petros Milionis of Chicago, Ill.

Milionis, who won two stages, finished second in a time of 88.15 seconds. Third place went to Team Smith & Wesson's John Bagakis of Livermore, Calif. who posted a final time of 90.04.

Rounding out the top five were Seiichi Ishikawa of Montebello, Calif. in fourth and Jaime Medoza of Santa Clarita, Calif. in fifth finishing the match in 93.23 and 98.22 seconds respectively. Mendoza was the only other shooter to win a stage.

Claiming the honor of top lady in the division was the captain of the Smith & Wesson shooting team Julie Golob of Glasgow, Mont. who finished ninth overall in a time of 106.85 seconds.

In the seniors category, John Maxwell of Newbury Park, Calif. claimed the Senior Iron Sight Rimfire title with a time of 127.81 seconds.

The Rimfire event is the first leg of the three event contest that decides the Steel Master winner. The second is the iron sight centerfire pistol event shot in either the Limited or Production division. And the third is the Open pistol contest, the main event of the World Speed Shooting Championships.

Steel Challenge competition resumes Friday morning at the Steel Challenge ranges in Piru, Calif. when competitors will shoot the Limited, Production and other iron sight pistol events.

For more information on the Steel Challenge and the Steel Challenge Shooting Association, visi www.SteelChallenge.com or follow @SteelChallenge on Twitter.