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Morgenstern posts second World Cup win of the weekend

Austria's Thomas Morgenstern soars over the Japanese city of Sapporo during his first jump at the World Cup ski jumping competition at Okurayama yesterday. PHOTO: EPA

World team champion Thomas Morgenstern of Austria posted his second win in two days with victory in the two-race Sapporo series of the World Cup ski jumping large hill competition yesterday.

Janne Happonen of Finland, who was second on Saturday, took the same place again, followed by Anders Bardal of Norway in third.

The 21-year-old Morgenstern, who won the team gold and the individual normal hill bronze in the world championships here last year, recorded the longest jump of 139m for 288.7 points and victory.

"It feels great. I'm satisfied with my first jump despite strong winds," said Morgenstern, who marked 135m in the first jump. "I'm also satisfied with my second jump as it was close to the limit."

It was the Austrian's ninth World Cup win this season and the 10th in his career, including one team title last season.

Morgenstern stretched his lead in the overall rankings to 1,455 points, ahead of Janne Ahonen of Finland on 845 points, Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria on 839 points and Tom Hilde of Norway on 825 points.

Happonen, also the runner-up in the opener at Kuusamo in December, jumped 134m for 272.5 points, while Bardal marked 131.5m for 264.3 points.

It was the 19th leg of the 28-round World Cup series.

■ WOMEN'S SUPER-G

AFP, SAINT-MORITZ, SWITZERLAND

Canadian Emily Brydon won her maiden World Cup title yesterday, scorching the Super-G ahead of Austrian duo Elisabeth Goergl and Renate Goetschl.

Brydon came home in 1 minute, 17.39 seconds, 0.25 seconds ahead of Goergl, with Goetschl a further 0.04 seconds adrift. Overall World Cup leader Nicole Hop of Austria finished in sixth place for some more valuable points.

The 27-year-old Canadian previously finished second in the World Cup Super-G rescheduled to the same Corvaglia piste here from the French resort of Val d'Isere in December.
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