July 22, 2006 (Park City, UT) – Jessica Jerome (Park City, UT) was fourth for the second straight night Saturday, leading four U.S. women into the top 10 of the VISA Women’s Ski Jumping Festival at Utah Olympic Park.

German teenager Juliane Seyfahrt, the reigning junior world champ, won collected her second win in 24 hours. She jumped 96.5 and 94.5 meters, good for 245.0 points as she overtook Norway’s Anette Sagen, the reigning Continental Cup champion, by one point.

With another blockbuster crowd – the parking lots were filled to capacity (1,600 cars) – on hand to catch the proceedings, Jerome jumped 92.5 and 91 meters, compiling 230.5 points on the 100-meter, normal hill at UOP. Alissa Johnson (also Park City) had one of the longest jumps of the second round, 93.5 meters, and climbed from ninth to fifth place with 230.0 points.

Ardovino continues to impress

High school Abby Hughes (also Park City) continued her impressive jumping, finishing seventh while Lindsey Van (also Park City), No. 2 in the world, was 10th. Among the other U.S. women, 14-year-old Avery Ardovino – 18th Friday night in the season opener – was 15th Saturday night.

Jerome, a student at Westminster College in Salt Lake City under scholarship plan between the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and the college, said she knew Friday night she could jump better, and although she didn’t move up in the placings, she felt better after the second event.

“I’m happy. The girls who beat me today definitely deserved it. That’s a great podium and they’re jumping well. They jumped better than I did,” she said. “I’m jumping, technically, way better…I’m getting it, slowly…

“I think Juliane’s going to be tough to beat this season; she’s a really good jumper and this was another good victory for her,” Jerome said.

Johnson, ninth in the opener and No. 5 in the second event, smiled and noted, “I knew I could do it, so it’s just nice to prove to myself I can. I had a hard day [Friday night]; I didn’t jump poorly but I knew I could do better. My first jump was good but my second jump was really good.”

What was the difference? “I don’t know. There wasn’t any air coming up the hill…but, well, I know what I need to do. I’ve got to totally relax a little bit and feel the rhythm…yeah, take another deep breath before I go. That can make the difference sometimes,” she said.

Coach: “We’ll get better…”

“The first couple of competitions of the year there’s always a lot of stress and tension because nobody knows how she’s going to do,” Johnson said. “So, it’s definitely nice to get these out of the way and finally be competing.

“Two comps down and 20 to go [continuing through the winter]. I’m extremely pleased with where the girls are at this point,” said Head Coach Casey Colby. “We saw some outstanding jumping from Abby, too…and how ’bout Avery Ardovino? Wow! She and Abby really made some major steps this weekend.”

He said the natural distractions of being home, plus the added pressure of wanting to do well in front of family and friends, created some tensions “but they handled it well. It’s good to get through the comps – four top-5s, a couple of more top-10s, and we’ll be getting better from here,” Colby said.

The women head to Calgary for jump meets Tuesday and Wednesday before the tour returns to Europe for three stops in Germany and one in Austria in mid-August.

VISA WOMEN’S SKI JUMPING FESTIVAL
Park City, Utah
Utah Olympic Park – July 22
Normal hill (HS100 – jump distances in meters)

1. Juliane Seyfahrt, Germany, (96.5-94.5 meters) 245.0 points
2. Anette Sagen, Norway, (97.5-92.5) 244.0
3. Daniela Irachko, Austria, (93-92) 234.5
4. Jessica Jerome, Park City, Utah, (92.5-91) 230.5
5. Alissa Johnson, Park City, Utah, (90-93.5) 230.0
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7. Abby Hughes, Park City, Utah, (93-89.5) 223.5
10. Lindsey Van, Park City, Utah, (88.5-90.5) 219.5
15. Avery Ardovino, Park City, Utah, (90-85.5) 208.0
17. Brenna Ellis, Park City, Utah, (84.5-84.5) 194.5
22. Karla Keck, Oconomowoc, Wis., (81-76.5) 162.5
24. Karin Friberg, St. Paul, Minn., (75.5-72) 140.0
25. Elisabeth Anderson, Eau Claire, Wis., (71.5-66.5) 119.0
26. Brittany Rhoads, Park City, Utah, (65.5-65) 99.5