December 14, 2007 (Villach, Austria) – Thomas Morgenstern of Austria tightened his grip on first place in the World Cup ski jumping standings Friday night as he won his fifth straight competition. It’s the longest start-of-the-season streak in the World Cup era.

At the same time, his streak of victories by more than 10 points came to end. Some times you just get a break, eh Thomas?

Morgenstern jumped 95 metres on Villach’s 98-meter hill in cthe opening round, tying him with Switzerland’s Andreas Kuettel, who jumped 97 metres, but was docked slightly for style. Each had 128.0 points.

In the end, Kuettel had a terrible second jump, going just 86.5 metres, while Morgenstern jumped 95 again and clinched the win with 249.5 points. Teammate Gregor Schlierenzauer was runner-up with jump of 92.5 and 93 metres for 243.5 with Finn Janne Ahonen third. Kuettel, who has trained in summer at Utah Olympic Park, eventually wound up 21st with 212.5 points. No North Americans competed.

“The next dream has come to me today,” Morgenstern told a press conference. “I came to Villach to be among the top, and to fight for a win, and now I have two wins out of two competitions. I will need some time to digest the situation.”

He had the best jump in each round Thursday night and won a meet shifted from Kranj, Slovenia, because of poor snow. In that competition, Ahonen was second and Schlierenzauer third.

For complete results.