SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP. The first competition in Engelberg, that took place as a replacement for the one of the cancelled events in Harrachov, has a winner - after one round only: Thomas Morgenstern continued his winning streak and won for the third time this season. The 17th World Cup victory, with 137 m and 134.4 points, was a special one for Morgenstern, because two of his teammates stood on the podium with him.

Last season's 4-Hills-Tournament winner Andreas Kofler (140 m, 132.2 points) and his predecessor Wolfgang Loitzl (136 m, 128.6 points). For Loitzl this was the first podium result of the season.

Luck on the side of Austrians

"I really enjoy being here in Engelberg, it's a Christmas atmosphere. Right now ski jumping is a lot of fun and I'm very happy. Of course I would have wanted to jump a second round but it was not ment to be. We often complained about cancellations of the second round but today luck was on our side", said Morgenstern.

Loitzl was also happy about his best result of the season. "I think that under the given conditions the competition was very fair. I achieved a good result and could show a good performance. The start of the season did not go well for me, now is the perfect time to be among the best again."

Hautamaeki fourth ahead of Koch

Due to the heavy snowfall the jury decided to cancel the final round. Some athletes had problems with the hill already in the first round. For example Anders Jacobsen and Johan Remen Evensen could not score points today.

Karelin makes Russians happy

With Martin Koch another member of the strong Austrian team finished fifth, right behind Finland's Matti Hautamaeki. Local hero Simon Ammann was sixth, Russian Pavel Karelin surprised as seventh, the first Top 10 result for the Russian team this season. Karelin already left a good impression in the qualification earlier today.

Daiki Ito from Japan (8th), best Norwegian Rune Velta and Kamil Stoch (both 9th) completed the Top 10 in the first event on the "Groß-Titlis-Hill". Poland's Stoch, who won the qualification, is on the up. The 23-year-old is slowly getting in the form of last summer.

Freund best German - Hocke scores points

Once again Severin Freund was the best German, he finished 13th, ahead of the great Adam Malysz (14th). Stephan Hocke scored points in his first appearance in the World Cup. He celebrated his only World Cup victory in Engelberg years ago and today he was 22nd.

Bjoern Einar Romoeren and Janne Ahonen, who did not take the trip to Harrachov, were 17th and 24th and so there still is room for improvement for them. Jakub Janda (15th), Roman Koudelka (18th) and Lukas Hlava (23rd) scored World Cup points for the Czech team. Bulgarian Vladimir Zografski reached the final for the first time.

Like already in the previous competitions, Andreas Kuettel did not reach the final. The World Champion is also not in a good form on home turf. Also the two French jumpers Emmanuel Chedal and Vincent Descombes Sevoie did not reach the Top 30 in the first of three competitions in Engelberg.

Morgenstern extends lead

Noriaki Kasai from Japan and the Norwegians Johan Remen Evensen and Anders Jacobsen did not score points, just like the Germans Michael Neumayer and Pascal Bodmer. The Polish team already lost three jumpers in the qualification and so only three could take part in the competition.

After this victory Thomas Morgenstern leads in the overall ranking with 425 points, followed by Andreas Kofler (330 points). But Morgenstern shall not feel to secure because: "I'm satisfied with the second place today. There is a steady positive development and that's what I wanted before the season. I also want to applaude the organizers. In spite of the weather, the hill was perfect", said Kofler.

FISskijumping.com
17.12.2010 15:29

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