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Morgenstern gets first win in Four Hills tournament

Ski jumper Anders Bardal covers his face with his gloved hands reading "Excuse us while we kiss the sky" at the Schattenberg ski jump in Oberstdorf, Germany, on Sunday. PHOTO: EPA

Thomas Morgenstern had the best leap of the day in the second round on Sunday to win the first stop of the prestigious Four Hills ski jumping tournament in Oberstdorf, Germany.

The Austrian, who has won seven of eight World Cup events this season, was boosted by optimal wind conditions on his second jump of 141.5m, pushing him past first-round leader Gregor Schlierenzauer.

Morgenstern finished with 295.9 points while Schlierenzauer was second with 280.7, and four-time Four Hills winner Janne Ahonen of Finland captured third with 279.0.

FIRST WIN

"That was one of my best jumps ever -- just a huge feeling," said Morgenstern, who got his first win in the tournament.

The 21-year-old Morgenstern is coming off a record six-straight World Cup wins to open the season, and could equal Germany's Sven Hannawald as the only jumper to win all four competitions in the tournament, which also includes competitions in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and the Austrian resorts of Innsbruck and Bischofshofen.

"I'm jumping very well so a lot is possible," Morgenstern said. "But right now what is important is the next event at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Then we'll see."

BRIDESMAID

Schlierenzauer settled for second for the fourth time this season behind Morgenstern. After an opening leap of 136.0, he fought a back wind on his second jump, managing only 130.5 in front of 22,500 spectators.

"I will keep fighting, the Four Hills still has a way to go," Schlierenzauer said.

Austria's Andreas Kofler was injured in a crash on his first jump and will miss will miss the other Four Hills events.

■ NORDIC COMBINED

AP, OBERSTDORF, GERMANY

Magnus Moan fought through snowfall and heavy wind on Sunday to win a Nordic Combined World Cup event, edging Bill Demong by 0.1 seconds.

Moan finished in 40 minutes 8.8 seconds for his first win of the season, with fellow Norwegian Petter Tande taking third, 9.1 seconds behind.

Ronny Ackermann led most of the race but was caught by the three skiers on the final lap, denying the four-time world champion a podium finish on his home course for the first time in his seven-year career. He ended up fourth, 11.8 back.

"At the end when the three of them really put on the pressure, I was a little tired," Ackermann said.

Bjorn Kircheisen of Germany leads the overall standings with 463 points, followed by Ackermann at 421 and Demong with 352.

Kircheisen finished ninth after two poor jumps and blamed thick fog and heavy winds.
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