Monday, February 19

Schmitt's Record Jump Earns a Gold

usskiteam.com

LAHTI, Finland - Martin Schmitt of Germany set a hill record of 131 meters on his second jump Monday night to overtake World Cup leader Adam Malysz of Poland and win his second consecutive gold medal in the large hill event at the World Championships.

Schmitt, who won his first world title in the rain on the 120-meter hill in Bischofshofen, Austria, in 1999, jumped 124.5 and 131 meters for 276.3 points. His jump broke the record of 130.5 meters set by Malysz two days earlier in training. The event had been postponed from Sunday because of gusting winds that made conditions unsafe.

Malysz, who has won eight of the last 10 World Cup events since taking his first meet Jan. 4 in Innsbuck, Austria, jumped 126 and 128.5 meters for 273.5. Finn Janne Ahonen was third (124.5-125.5 for 267.4).

"Today, every one of the three of us could win. It was that close. Maybe I was the luckiest," Schmitt, whose bid for a third consecutive World Cup title is being threatened by Malysz, told a press conference.

Clint Jones (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Alan Alborn (Anchorage, AK) missed the top-30 cutoff for the second round. Jones, with a jump of 97.5 meters, finished in a tie for 38th place while Alborn was 41st with a 94.5-meter jump.

?That was definitely good for Clint, at 16 and in his first World Championships,? said U.S. Head Coach Kari Ylianttila, ?but Alan missed it completely, jumping straight up instead of forward [on the takeoff]. With the [in-run/takeoff] speeds as low as they are, you have to go forward and he didn?t.?

44th WORLD NORDIC SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lahti, FIN
Large Hill (K116) Jumping
(Top 30 made second round; jump distances in meters)

1. Martin Schmitt, Germany, (124.5-131 meters) 276.3 points
2. Adam Malysz, Poland, (126-128.5) 273.5
3. Janne Ahonen, Finland, (124.5-125.5) 267.4
4. Martin Hoellwarth, Austria, (117-125.5) 251.4
5. Stefan Horngacher, Austria, (114.5-123) 238.9