Sagen stretches perfect run at Lake Placid

Norway’s Anette Sagen continued her domination of the 90-meter ski jump at Lake Placid on Wednesday by winning her second women’s Continental Cup in as many days and remaining unbeaten in the two-time Winter Olympic village.
    Dating back to 2005, Sagen has won the last four events that she has entered on the 1980 Winter Olympic hill and now has totaled 29 Continental Cup career victories.
    “My first jump was really good … one of my best,” Sagen said. “Technically, the second was not. But I loved this hill the first time I jumped it and still do.”
    The top American for the second straight day was Jessica Jerome, who finished fifth.
LAKE PLACID, New York — Norway’s Anette Sagen continued her domination of the 90-meter ski jump at Lake Placid on Wednesday by winning her second women’s Continental Cup in as many days and remaining unbeaten in the two-time Winter Olympic village.
    Dating back to 2005, Sagen has won the last four events that she has entered on the 1980 Winter Olympic hill and now has totaled 29 Continental Cup career victories.
    As was the case Tuesday, wind conditions that were less than ideal impacted many competitors but barely affected the Norwegian. With a breeze blowing down the hill during the opening round, Sagen launched 96 meters when no one else went further than 86. In the final round, with the wind shifting periodically, Sagen’s overwhelming lead held up despite a second jump of 83 meters. Her total of 216.5 distance and style points defeated runner-up Nata de Leeuw of Canada.
    “My first jump was really good … one of my best,” Sagen said. “Technically, the second was not. But I loved this hill the first time I jumped it and still do.”
    DeLeeuw’s consistent attempts of 86 meters in both rounds gave her 207 points, followed by pink-haired Daniela Iraschko of Austria, who touched down at 84.5 and 86 meters for 204 points.
    The competition took place on the artificial surfaces of the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex. The porcelain tile in-run and synthetic landing surfaces, when watered, simulated winter ski conditions despite the sunny, 88-degree weather.
Iraschko, second Tuesday, retains the overall Continental Cup lead with 436 points. Sagen, with three wins in four tries, is next at 380 after missing the first two meets of the season. Jenna Mohr of Germany, sixth Wednesday, stands third overall at 294.
    “It’s not my goal to win the overall,” continued Sagen. “My goal is to improve as a jumper and be better.”
    The top American for the second straight day was Jessica Jerome, who finished fifth. Jerome, seventh midway through the competition after jumping 79 meters, rebounded in the final with the second longest jump of the round at 87.5 meters and grabbed 194.5 points.
    The 20-year-old capitalized when the final 12 jumpers of the meet posted a variety of distances ranging from 68.5 to 88 meters.
    “It was a combination of the conditions and how people jump in them,” she said. “It’s a crap shoot. But a good jumper has to jump well in all conditions. You never know what will happen. That’s why there are two jumps.”
Jerome is gradually returning to form after a knee injury.
    “I had a slow start after the injury. I focused on getting the strength back and struggled when I returned. But now I’m working more on the muscle memory returning and it’s getting better each day.”
    Avery Ardovino placed ninth with 73 and 80 meter jumps for 163 points. Brenna Ellis and Lindsay Van finished 11th and 12th, respectively.
    The tour completes its summer slate Saturday and Sunday at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah, site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games ski jump events.