U.S. Nationals: Johnson, Van jump to titles

Lindsey Van and Anders Johnson jumped to titles Saturday at the U.S. Jumping and Nordic Combined Championships, and each is certainly no stranger to earning the honor as the nation's top jumper.
LAKE PLACID, N.Y .— Lindsey Van and Anders Johnson jumped to titles Saturday at the U.S. Jumping and Nordic Combined Championships, and each is certainly no stranger to earning the honor as the nation's top jumper. 
    Van, who's been striving for consistency in her jumping this season, picked up her 14th national title, while Johnson marked his sixth consecutive victory and second national title when he beat out nordic combined team stalwarts Billy Demong and Johnny Spillane for the 2009 title.
    "Today felt really good. I've been jumping consistently better all summer," Johnson said. "The second round I had a good jump and it felt good to get the win. I'm excited for that title, but I'm excited for my team [Project X] as well."

Van: Step in the right direction
"It means more that I had two really good jumps, but obviously it's nice to win again," Van said. "It's been a while since anything like that has happened, so I'm excited. It feels like a step in the right direction for me."
    Landing in the second-place spot in the women's competition was Jessica Jerome, followed by Alissa Johnson in third.
    "My first jump was really good – probably one of the best jumps I've had in the past couple of weeks and I was really happy with it," Jerome said. "But the second round the air was a little bit inconsistent and I had a really bad jump. Obviously I would have liked to have won, but I didn't put two good jumps together, Lindsey did."
    According to Jerome, competing in Lake Placid was a benefit for all the women, who know the hill like the back of their hands.
    "It was great. We've jumped this hill a lot and we know it really well and we know how to fly it. The competition went pretty well," Jerome said.
    Next up, a SuperTour competition on Sunday.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 U.S. Championships
Lake Placid, N.Y. – Oct. 11, 2008

Women's Jumping
1. Lindsey Van, Park City, UT, 251.0 (Points)
2. Jessica Jerome, Park City, UT, 237.5
3. Alissa Johnson, Park City, UT, 226.0
4. Abby Hughes, Park City, UT, 216.5
5. Avery Ardovino, Park City, UT, 200.5
6. Karin Friberg, Roseville, MN, 196.5
–
Men's Jumping
1. Anders Johnson, Park City, UT, 268.5
2. Johnny Spillane, Steamboat Springs, CO, 261.5
3. Billy Demong, Vermontville, NY, 251.0
4. Nick Fairall, Andover, NH, 247.0
5. Todd Lodwick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 233.0