August 6, 2006 – Three Americans finished in the top 10 Sunday as the women’s ski jumping Continental Cup schedule resumed in a downpour at the former East German nordic center. Jessica Jerome (Park City, UT) earned her first podium of the season, finishing third, with Lindsey Van (also Park City) fourth and Abby Hughes (also Park City) – with the longest jump in the final round – was eighth.

Defending overall champion Anette Sagen of Norway snapped the four-meet winning streak of Germany’s Juliane Seyfaht with a strong second jump on the 85-meter hill. Sagen finished with 230.0 points to 227.5 for Seyfahrt, who swept all four meets in North America last month, taking two at the VISA Women’s Ski Jumping Festival in Park City and then the next two in Calgary, Alberta.

Jerome, the top U.S. jumper in three of those North American meets, was third with 225.0 points on jumps of 79 and 79.5 meters; her final jump drew the highest style points of the meet. Van, the No. 2 skier in each of the last two seasons behind Sagen and second in the opening round behind Seyfahrt, had her best day of the young season, jumping 80.5 and 75.5 for 218.5 points. Hughes produced her third top-10 with jumps of 72 and 83.5 meters (207.0) for eighth place.

“Rain pounded us all day long; it never let up,” U.S. Coach Casey Colby said. “At one point during the trial round a couple of skiers almost hydroplaned out of the track because of too much water in the track.”

After five of 24 Continental Cup events, Jerome is fourth overall with Van fifth and Alissa Johnson (also Park City), who was 12th Sunday, seventh with Hughes 11th. Continental Cup is the highest level for women, who have been approved for inclusion in the 2009 World Championships and are hoping to be added to the 2010 Olympic schedule. The next women’s Continental Cup meet is Wednesday in Poehla, Germany.