Nita Englund takes 7th and 8th place in World Cup Competitions in Oberstdorf, Germany

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Park City, UT—Nita Englund of the U.S. Visa Women’s Ski Jumping Team placed a career-best seventh place in Oberstdorf, Germany in the Sixth World Cup competition of the season on Saturday, January 24, 2015. With a second place finish and 98.5 meter jump in the qualifying round, Englund went on to soar 95.0 and 88.5 meters in her competition jumps, scoring 211.4 points. Austrian Daniela Iraschko-Stolz won the Saturday competition with inspiring jumps of 101.0 and 95.0 meters, scoring 245.2 points.

 “Today took me by surprise,” said Englund. “My training had felt very off in the beginning of the week, but I put it all together in official training. My first competition jump was one of the better jumps I have ever had and I’m very happy about it. I made some mistakes on the second jump--mostly because I was a little nervous!”

Englund’s confidence from Saturday’s competition helped to earn her an 8th place finish in the Seventh World Cup on Sunday, January 25, 2015. Englund flew 87.0 and 87.5 meters in her two jumps, scoring 194.7 points. Iraschko-Stolz took the podium again with winning jumps of 97.5 and 89.5 meters and 234.3 points.

Englund’s team-mates on the U.S. Visa Women’s Ski Jumping Team had mixed results. Jessica Jerome had solid 16th and 17th place finishes in the two competitions, while Sarah Hendrickson placed 17th in Saturday’s competition and did not qualify for a second jump on Sunday.

“Conditions here in Germany were really nice and more equal than what we experienced in Japan,” commented the women’s travel coach, Vasja Bajc. “We appreciate the high level event that the Oberstdorf ski club has organized. Based on our training sessions in Seefeld, Austria, we were very optimistic coming into this weekend.”

“Nita had her best result so far,” Bajc continued. “She had even more in her legs, but the pressure from the competition gave her some fright before the second jump, resulting in a small mistake in the second round. She will be placed even better when she follows her line further and improves her telemark landing. Although Jessica did not find a right rhythm of the hill and had some problems with her in-run position, she showed two consistent, equal jumps. After a couple of great days in Seefeld, Sarah probably expected more. However, she can get back to the top, step by step, by staying more passioned and focusing on technique. Her second jump [on Saturday] was close to the level she showed in Seefeld. Fixing a few small technical issues and finding more patience and relaxation will bring her soon back to where she was. I am happy that both Nina and Tara qualified to jump. Both women are wanting to show better performance, which causes them to make mistakes in take-off. We cannot wait to meet our other athletes in Slovenia and spend some days together.”

Although the next World Cup competition is scheduled for January 31, 2015 and February 1, 2015 in Hinzenbach, Austria, warm weather and a lack of snow are complicating competition planning. A decision regarding the event, or a possible replacement event in Ramsau or Seefeld, will be announced mid-week.

Saturday Results:

  • Nita Englund: 7th place with jumps of 95.0 and 88.5 meters; 211.4 points
  • Jessica Jerome: 16th place with jumps of 87.0 and 87.0 meters; 193.4 points
  • Sarah Hendrickson: 17th place with jumps of 86.5 and 89.0; 192.3
  • Did not qualify for second round: Nina Lussi and Tara Geraghty-Moats
  • Winner: Daniela Iraschko-Stolz of Austria, with jumps of 101.0 and 95.0 meters; 245.2 points

>> Full Results

Sunday Results:

  • Nita Englund: 8th place (tie with Chiara Hoelzl of Austria) with jumps of 87.0 and 87.5 meters; 194.7 points
  • Jessica Jerome: 17th place with jumps of 86.0 and 80.5 meters; 179.6 points
  • Winner: Daniela Iraschko-Stolz of Austria, with jumps of 97.5 and 89.5 meters; 234.3 points
  • Did not qualify for second round: Nina Lussi, Sarah Hendrickson, and Tara Geraghty-Moats

>> Full Results