TORINO: Ski jump: Morgenstern tops in large-hill qualifying; Alborn makes cut

By Published On: February 17th, 2006Comments Off on TORINO: Ski jump: Morgenstern tops in large-hill qualifying; Alborn makes cut

TORINO: Ski jump: Morgenstern tops in large-hill qualifying; Alborn makes cut{mosimage}PRAGELATO, Italy – Alaska’s Alan Alborn has qualified for the ski jumping individual large-hill event, to be held Saturday in Pragelato.

Fifteen jumpers were prequalified for Saturday’s event, while the final 35 spots were up for grabs at Friday’s qualification round.

Alborn finished tied for 36th overall and 21st among those not prequalified with a jump of 111.5 meters.

Also jumping tonight for the United States but not qualifying for Saturday was Clint Jones, Jim Denney and Tommy Schwall. Jones and Schwall each jumped 100.5 meters, and Denney went 95.0 m.

Austrian Thomas Morgenstern, who was prequalified, posted the best jump of 136.0 m and received 136.8 points. Finn Janne Ahonen was second (136.0 m, 136.3 points) and Austria’s Andreas Kofler was third (133.5 m). Both Ahonen and Kofler were prequalified as well.

Alborn, Jones and Schwall owned three of four qualification spots. The fourth slot was filled by Denney after Friday’s trial round.

Weather has been wreaking havoc lately with ski jumping as Thursday’s nighttime training was canceled due to falling snow, wind and low visibility. Friday’s trial round and qualification round were pushed back to later in the day because of inclement weather.

Alborn was the top American finisher in Sunday’s normal-hill contest, as he took 40th.

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About the Author: Pete Rugh