Van nails Grand Prix women's midseason title

By Published On: February 18th, 2007Comments Off on Van nails Grand Prix women's midseason title

Lindsey Van of Park City, Utah, continuing to demonstrate a reignited determination, clinched the midseason Women’s Grand Prix title Saturday as she finished second in a Continental Cup behind Canadian Katie Willis.
SCHONACH, Germany — Lindsey Van of Park City, Utah, continuing to demonstrate a reignited determination, clinched the midseason Women’s Grand Prix title Saturday as she finished second in a Continental Cup behind Canadian Katie Willis.
    In a competition moved from Schoenwald because of poor snow, Willis won with jumps of 92.5 and 945 meters for 242.0 points. Van, who won twice in the five-event Grand Prix series-within-the-series (Continental Cup) and had two other podiums, had jumps of 92 and 93 meters for 239.5 points. Alissa Johnson was ninth with Avery Ardovino 16th.
    In the five events over 12 days, Van was first, third, seventh, first and second for 376 Grand Prix points. Ulrike Graessler of Germany, who had led going into the two final events, was second at 328.
    “Lindsey’s such a serious athlete, so determined … and she’s jumping as well as I’ve seen her. She’s in a good place [mentally] and is jumping so well,” said coach Larry Stone, who coached Van earlier in her career when she spent two years in Lake Placid, New York, attending the National Sports Academy.
    “She skied especially tough this week to win the title. Good for her,” he added.
    A recap of the latest swing through Europe by the U.S. women’s jumpers:

Jan. 6 (Ljubno, Slovenia; HS85 meters) — Van and Graessler open the Grand Prix by tying for first. Van jumped 83.5 and 85/5 while Graessler went 86 and 85 meters, each scoring 231.0 points. Next American is Alissa Johnson in 20th place.

Jan. 8 (Saalfelden, Austria; HS85) — Graessler makes it two straight wins, jumping 87 and 86 meters for 226.0 points with Norway’s Anette Sagen (86-81) second at 218.5. Van is third with jumps of 79 and 80 meters.

Jan. 10 (Raestbuechl, Germany; HS75) — Sagen’s jumps of 775. and 79.5 give her a 15-point victory (240.4) with Austrian Daniela Iraschko second and Willis third. Van was seventh, Ardovino 12th and Johnson 16th.

Jan. 14 (Baiersbronn, Germany; HS90) — Van jumps 86 and 85 meters, good for 225.5 points and her second win of the tour. German Lisa Rexhaeuser is second with jumps of 89.5 and 81.5 for 221.0 with Graessler third and Willis fourth. Ardovino is 12th again while Abby Hughes and Johnson tie for 17th.

Jan. 17 (Schonach, Germany; HS96) — Willis for the win, Van for the title. And Johnson back into the top 10.

The women’s Continental Cup season concludes with four jump meets March 5-10 in Japan. Sagen leads the Continental Cup standings while Van is fifth with Jessica Jerome — out since December with torn knee ligaments — is eighth with Johnson 10th and Hughes 11th.

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About the Author: Pete Rugh