Sarah Hendrickson celebrates win in Sochi
After the opener in Lillehammer the ladies now travelled to Sochi, a new and very interesting location, for the second World Cup weekend. At the site of the upcoming Olympic Winter Games, last season's overall World Cup winner American Sarah Hendrickson was on top of the podium in the first of two individual competitions. Sara Takanashi of Japan and Anette Sagen of Norway came in second and third. So the same athletes were on the podium as in the first event in Lillehammer.
Right on time for the start of the competition the rain got less at the hill in sochi and so the athletes and spectators could enjoy a competition under good conditions. After she came in second in Lillehammer, Sarah Hendrickson took the win this time with jumps on 103.5 m and 103 m and her total of 264.2 points. Following knee surgery this spring and a late return to the hills in September the 18-year-old is in an impressive shape at the beginning of the season. "I really enjoyed jumping here. It's a great feeling to celebrate a victory at the site of the Olympic Games 2014", the happy winner told and added that: "It seems that it might be the year of the two Sara(h)s again, but let's wait. There are so many good jumpers but of course I'll try to do my best all the time."
The second place went to Japanese Sara Takanashi, who set a new hill record with her 106 m jump in the first round. With strong 104 m in the final round (258.0 points), she lost against her main rival from the USA due to lower style marks. "I'm very happy that I was second today. It's a pity that I had problems with the landing and that I couldn't show a telemark. I already had this problem last year", said the 16-year-old Japanese. "But I like this hill in Sochi."
Norwegians not affected by problems with the equipment
Anette Sagen of Norway came in third with jumps on 101.5 m and 98 m (245.1 points). Despite the problems the Norwegian team had before this first competition, Sagen was very happy with her podium result. "I also had some problems with the equipment that arrived here very late, but on time. I have to say that the ski jumping family is simply great because they took care of us and I could have borrowed boots and skis. Thanks a lot for this support!"
The luggage and the skis of the Norwegians got lost on the way to Sochi. That was also the reason why they had to skip yesterday's training rounds. The equipment arrived on time for the start of the competition. Sagen's teammates Maren Lundby and Line Jahr completed the good team result as 11th and 14th. "The hill here in Sochi is similar to the hill in Midtstua where the World Championships 2011 were held and I like that a lot. I really enjoy jumping here in Sochi", Sagen told.
Depth among the Top 10
The athletes, who already did well in summer and at the World Cup opener in Lillehammer, were also in the Top 10 today. The best ten ski jumpers today came from a total of eight different nations. Austrian Daniela Iraschko closely missed the podium, after she started the winter as one of the top favorites due to her outstanding results in summer. Coline Mattel shared the fourth place with Iraschko, followed by Italian Evelyn Insam, Jacqueline Seifriedsberger (AUT), Carina Vogt (GER), Katja Pozun (SLO) and Svenja Wuerth (GER) completed the Top Ten. So Carina Vogt and Svenja Wuerth were once again the best German jumpers, while their teammates could not meet the expectations with the places 24 (Juliane Seyfarth/Katharina Althaus), 27 (Ulrike Graessler) and 29 (Melanie Faisst).
For the local heroes of Russia the competition did also not go as they wished. With Irina Avvakumova only one of three Russians could qualify for the final round and came in 21st. While the winner of the competition in Courchevel, Alexandra Pretorius, failed to make the cut, her teammate Taylor Henrich attracted some attention in the trial round and also in the competition with her 12th place.
Hendrickson and Takanashi share overall lead
After the results from Lillehammer and today's event in Sochi, Sarah Hendrickson and Sara Takanashi are leading in the overall World Cup. Even if it's only the second weekend of competition this winter it seems that a duel of the two athletes, similar to what could be seen last winter, can be expected.