Ammann seizes Grand Prix jumping series lead

Switzerland’s Simon Ammann won back-to-back FIS Grand Prix jumping competitions over the weekend in Hakuba, Japan, to seize the lead in the series with two competitions remaining.
Switzerland’s Simon Ammann won back-to-back FIS Grand Prix jumping competitions over the weekend in Hakuba, Japan, to seize the lead in the series with two competitions remaining.
    Ammann crushed the field in Saturday’s opener, jumping 135.5 meters and 124.5 meters and scoring 262.5 points to easily outdistance Japan’s Daiki Ito in second place with 237.6 points. Andreas Kuettel of Switzerland was third.
    On Sunday, Ammann pulled out a much narrower win over Ito, scoring 262.6 points to 255.3 for second-place Ito. Roar Ljoekelsoey of Norway was third.
    “Today’s result was perfect,” Ammann said of Sunday’s performance. “Technically, the jumps today were not the best, but it was enough for the win and for the current first place in the Grand Prix overall.”
    Ammann’s two victories propelled him to the top of the GP standings with 487 points. Austria’s Gregor Schlierenzauer, who did not compete in Hakuba, is second with 470 points.
    The final two events of the series are slated for Oct. 3 in Klingenthal, Germany, and Oct. 4 in Liberec, Czech Republic.

Saturday’s Top 3
Hakuba, Japan
1. Simon Ammann  SUI 135,5 / 124,5 meters,  262.5 points
2. Daiki Ito JPN 126,5 / 118. meters,  237,6 points
3. Andreas Kuettel SUI 127 / 117 meters,  236,2 points

Sunday’s Top 3
Hakuba, Japan
1. Simon Ammann  SUI 129,5 / 130,0 meters,  262.6 points
2. Daiki Ito JPN 124,5 / 129,0 meters, 255,3 points
3. Roar Ljoekelsoey NOR 129,0 / 120,5 meters,  248,1 points

2008 FIS Grand Prix overall standings
1 Ammann, Simon 487
2 Schlierenzauer, Gregor. 470
3 Kofler, Andreas 315