At the individual competition in Lahti, Finland, Nika Kriznar achieved success with a hill record. The Slovenian showed the competition what is possible on the hill with her sixth World Cup victory. The Austrians Jaqueline Seifriedsberg and Eva Pinkelnig secured second and third places. The best Germans were Katharina Schmid and Selina Freitag.
The ski jumpers had to get off the large jump early in the morning, which “has a very steep approach and its own character,” said coach Thomas Juffinger, describing the challenge. For Katharina Schmid it is “one of the most difficult jumps that we women jump in the World Cup”.
With 121 meters, Schmid managed the hill best in the German sextet and put himself in a good starting position in sixth place behind Nika Kriznar, who jumped to the hill record with 127 meters, Jaqueline Seifriedsberger (125) and Yuki Ito (112.5m).
Pinkelnig sets another hill record
In the second round, however, the Austrian Eva Pinkelnig set the second hill record with 128.5 meters and was recommended for a top 3 place. Schmid, who was ahead of Pinkelnig after the first round, was unable to compete at the front with 115 meters and slipped to eleventh place. Ito couldn’t get past the Austrian either.
Kriznar follows up
Only Pinkelnig’s teammate Seifriedsberger (125m) held on and secured second place. But Kriznar could not be beaten, who improved the hill record again with 131.5 meters and deservedly celebrated the victory.
Schmid and Friday in the top 15
Selina Freitag (116.5/119.5m) from WSC Erzgebirge Oberwiesenthal was able to improve in the final, but remained in 12th place. Teammate Luisa Görlich (WSV 08 Lauscha), on the other hand, did not achieve a greater distance (117.5/113.5 m ) and ended up in 16th place.
Juliane Seyfarth (WSC Ruhla), who, after 113.5 meters in the first round, was unable to use the updraft in the second flight (110m) and only finished in 25th place, also remained within her options.
Youngster Kübler gets a World Cup point
Youngster Pia-Lilian Kübler (106.5m) from SV Zschopau, who coached Juffinger at the last Continental Cup competitions in Brotterode “recommended with good performance“, made it into the top 30 when she was 29. In the second round, however, the 21-year-old only managed 101 meters and was therefore no longer able to move forward in the rankings.
Rupprecht misses qualification
Anna Rupprecht (SC Degenfeld), on the other hand, did not have good wind conditions on her first attempt and so her flight was over after just 98.5 meters. This meant she missed qualifying for the second round.