COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) -- Hundreds of U.S. shooters are competing at Fort Benning for a trip to the Sydney Olympics.

 The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit is playing host to the spring trials, the first of two competitions that will determine the American shooting team for the Sydney Games in September.

 Competition began Thursday and continues through May 5.

 The second round of trials will be held June 21 to July 1 at Tom Lowe Shooting Grounds near Atlanta. The complex, formerly known as Wolf Creek, was site of shooting at the 1996 Olympics.

 The Americans won three medals in Atlanta: Kim Rhode of El Monte, Calif., captured gold in the women's double trap; Josh Lakatos, of Pasadena, Calif., won silver in men's trap; and Lance Bade of Vancouver, Wash., took bronze in men's trap. All three are competing at Fort Benning.

 The scores from both trials will be added together to determine the Olympic team.

 The male and female shooters are competing for 29 slots in 17 disciplines, including trap, double trap, free rifle, air rifle, running target, skeet and pistol.

 The shooting competition in Sydney will be held Sept. 16-23.