Malysz wins ski jump

BAD MITTERNDORF, Austria (AP) - Adam Malysz of Poland became only the second ski jumper to win more than one World Cup event this season, dominating a ski flying competition on the Kulm hill Sunday.

Malysz won with jumps of 207 and 209.5 metres, good for 412.3 points. Austria's Andreas Widhoelzl, who beat Malysz to take Saturday's event, finished second with 400.5 points.

Risto Jussilainen of Finland was third with 396.9 points, his first podium finish in four years.

"I am really happy. Yesterday my first jump was not that great and cost me the win. However, today, everything worked out perfectly," said Malysz, whose other victory this season came in December in Harrachov, Czech Republic.

"I have been in great form all season, but never really managed to realize it in the competitions. In training everything worked, but in the events there was always something I struggled with," Malysz said.

Finland's Janne Ahonen, who has won 11 of 15 events this season, skipped the event with the flu but comfortably held on to his overall World Cup lead with 1,260 points.

Austria's Martin Hoellwarth is second with 756, ahead of Czech Jakub Janda, who has 746 points. Three-time World Cup winner Malysz has moved up to fifth with 678 points.

AP, 16.01.2005

Poland's Adam Malysz soars through the air during the ski jumping World Cup in Bad Mitterndorf, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005. Malysz won the event ahead of Austria's Andreas Widhoelzl and Finland's Risto Jussilainen. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

Poland's Adam Malysz celebrates his victory in the ski jumping World Cup in Bad Mitterndorf, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

Winner of the ski jumping World Cup Poland's Adam Malysz, center, poses with local traditional dressed women Sabine Stoeckl, left, and Anna Deopito, right, in Bad Mitterndorf, Austria, on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005. (AP Photo/Andreas Schaad)

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Norway dominates cross-country

NOVE MESTO, Czech Republic, (CP) - Norwegian skiers swept World Cup cross-country sprint events Sunday while Olympic gold medallist Beckie Scott finished fifth in her second event of the season.

In the women's 1.2-kilometre final, Marit Bjoergen, the runaway World Cup leader, finished ahead of Finland's Pirjo Manninen and Germany's Claudia Kuenzel.

Scott, from Vermilion, B.C., won her quarter-final heat but finished third in the semis and was relegated to the B final, where she finished first.

"It is a definitely a great feeling to finish where I did today," said Scott, who trained full-time in North America during the first half of the season. "I was exhausted this morning when I woke up because of the travel and yesterday's race so I thought it could go either way today, but I mentally got my way through it."

Sara Renner of Canmore, Alta., was 19th.

Johan Kjoelstad defeated Italy's Freddy Schwienbacher and Sweden's Bjoern Lind in the men's final.

Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont., was the top Canadian, finishing 41st.

Canadian Press, 16.01.2005

Winner Johan Kjoelstad, center, from Norway, runner-up Freddy Schwienbacher, left, from Italy and third placed Bjoern Lind, right, from Sweden celebrate during the awarding ceremony of the men's 1.2km Sprint Free FIS World Cup event in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Marit Bjoergen of Norway (C) celebrates victory during the award ceremony of the Women's 1.2 km Sprint Free race of the World Cup Cross-Country event in the city of Nove Mesto in the Eastern Czech Republic, January 16, 2005. Bjoergen won today ahead of Finland's Pirjo Manninen (L) and third placed Claudia Kuenzel of Germany (R). REUTERS/Petr Josek

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Austria's Widhoelzl Wins Ski Jump Event

BAD MITTERNDORF, Austria - Austria's Andreas Widhoelzl won a World Cup ski flying event Saturday for his first victory in more than two years.

Norway's Roar Loekelsoey, last year's ski flying world champion, was second and Poland's Adam Malysz was third. Finland's Janne Ahonen, the runaway World Cup leader, is recovering from the flu and didn't compete.

Ski flying is contested off unusually big hills, with the jumpers covering great distances.

Widhoelzl recorded the 18th victory of his career. He soared 206.5 meters in the second round on the Kulm hill, the longest jump of the day, and won with a total of 398.3 points. Loekelsoey had 396.0 points and Malysz 393.9.

"I've been working hard for this and now I'm rewarded," Widhoelzl said. "I already felt great yesterday, but it was a perfect day today."

Ahonen leads the standings with 1,260 points, followed by Austria's Martin Hoellwarth (717) and the Czech Republic's Jakub Janda (672).

AP, January 15, 2005

Norway's Roar Ljoekelsoey soars through the air during the ski jump World Cup compedition, on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005 in Bad Mitterndorf, Austria. Ljoekelsoey took the second place. (AP Photo/Jerstin Joensson)

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Vittoz, Neumannova Win Cross Country World Cup Freestyle

NOVE MESTO, Czech Republic. Vincent Vittoz of France and Katerina Neumannova of the Czech Republic won World Cup freestyle races Saturday.

Vittoz defeated Christian Hoffmann of Austria by 4.4 seconds to win the men's 15-kilometer event, his third victory of the season. The Frenchman is second in the overall standings with 434 points, 90 behind leader Axel Teichmann of Germany, who finished 24th.

Tobias Angerer of Germany was third, 9.6 seconds behind the winner, and another German, Rene Sommerfeldt, moved to third overall with 294 points following his fifth-place finish.

Neumannova earned her 13th career World Cup victory - her first in front of a home crowd. She beat World Cup leader Marit Bjoergen of Norway by 7.7 seconds.

"It's a big thing to win at home and I'm very happy," Neumannova said. "I had a slower start ... but was strong at the finish."

Julia Tchepalova of Russia finished third, 13.6 seconds behind Neumannova.

Neumannova is third in the overall standings with 407 points after 10 races. Bjoergen still comfortably leads with 790 points. Estonia's Kristina Smigun, who was seventh Saturday, is second with 516.

AP, January 15, 2005

Katerina Neumannova from the Czech Republic speeds up the hill during the women's 10km free individual FIS World Cup event in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, on Saturday Jan. 15, 2005. Neumannova won ahead of Marit Bjoergen from Norway and Julija Tchepalovova from Russia who came in third. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Vincent Vittoz from France skies down the hill during the men's 15km free individual FIS World Cup event in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, Saturday Jan. 15, 2005. Vittoz won the race ahead of Christian Hoffmann from Austria who placed second and Tobias Angerer from Germany who came in third placed. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Vincent Vittoz from France celebrates after winning the men's 15km free individual FIS World Cup event in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, on Saturday Jan. 15, 2005. Vittoz won ahead of Christian Hoffmann from Austria who placed second and Tobias Angerer from Germany who came in third placed. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)