January 27, 2011 (Otepaa, Estonia) – Coline Mattel brought home the gold for France at the Junior World Championships in Otepää on Thursday after placing second last year and third the year before. Leading after the first round Mattel was in a tight race with Spela Rogelj (SLO) for the top spot besting her by a slim margin of 3.5 points followed by Japan’s Yuki Ito only 5.5 points back.

It was Rogelj’s first podium at a COC or World Championship event. Ito had the longest jump of the day at 99m for a career-best result.

“I am very happy, because I jumped well and even if I was nervous I knew that a lot of people were expecting me to win, because of the last year and year before that,” said Mattel in a FIS interview post-race. “The competition was difficult because of the wind. I think I was very nervous and maybe I didn’t jump as well as I am capable of. It was nice competition because everyone was fighting for the win.”

Sarah Hendrickson (Park City, UT) was the top U.S. finisher in 18th Hendrickson’s score of 205.0 with jumps of 86.5 and 84.1 meters was followed up by fellow Americans Nita Englund (Iron Mountain, MI) in 18th, Avery Ardovino (Park City, UT) in 37th and Nina Lussi (Lake Placid, NY) in 38th.

Top Canadians were Taylor Henrich (Altius Nordic Ski Club) in 25th with a score of 188.5 followed by Charlotte Mitchel (Altius Nordic Ski Club) in 29th with 175.5.

The FIS World Junior Ski Jumping Championship men’s HS 100 is scheduled for Friday.

Complete results HERE.

Results

1. Coline Mattel (FRA) (96.5, 98.5) 257.5
2. Spela Rogelj (SLO)  (96.5, 96.5) 254.0
3. Yuki Ito (JPN) (93.0, 99.0) 252.0

18. Sarah Hendrickson (USA) (86.5, 84.5) 205.0
25. Taylor Henrich (CAN) (81.5. 84.5) 188.5
28. Nita Englund  (USA)  (83.5, 76.5) 178.0
29. Charlotte Mitchell (CAN) (79.5, 80.0) 175.5
37. Avery Ardovino  (USA) (74.5) 76.5
38. Nina Lussi  (USA) (73.5) 75.0