December 17, 2010 (Notodden, Norway) – Light snowfall was the backdrop for competition at the K90 hill Friday in Notodden, Norway where Austria’s Daniela Iraschko won her fourth Continental Cup competition in a row this winter season. And Visa Women’s Ski Jumping Team member Jessica Jerome reached the podium for a third time this winter by taking second place.

Iraschko jumped 97.0 and 95.5 meters; Jerome 94.0 and 91.5 meters and Italy’s Elena Runggaldier leaped from 10th to 3rd place after the second round (90.5 and 96.5 m). Visa Team member Lindsey Van was second heading into the second round, but fell to seventh after her second jump (94.5 and 90 meters).

Jerome is currently in second place overall and is having one of the best seasons of her career. She’s more confident and consistent, saying, “I know what I need to do to keep improving and jumping farther, so every day I am looking forward to expanding on what I’m already doing right. The entire team is doing so well as a whole. The motivation keeps growing and our jumps keep getting better.”

Jumpers from seven different countries were in the top 10 spots Friday, another indication that athletes and competition is getting even stronger and more widespread.

The COC continues Saturday in Notodden and then takes a holiday break before resuming competition in Schonach, Germany on Jan. 8, 2011.

Full results HERE.

Continental Cup
Notodden, Norway
Dec. 17, 2010
Women’s HS98
(top 30 after first round jump in second round)

1. Daniela Iraschko, Austria (97, 95.5) 254
2. Jessica Jerome, USA, (94, 91.5) 242.5
3. Elena Runggaldier, ITA, (90.5, 96.5) 242
–
7. Lindsey Van, USA, (94.5, 90) 235.5
16. Sarah Hendrickson, USA, (87.5, 88.5) 217
20. Alissa Johnson, USA, (83.5, 88.5) 208
24. Abby Hughes, USA, (85.5, 86.5) 202
30. Nita Englund, USA, (83.5, 79) 180
32. Nina Lussi, USA, (80) 88
38. Avery Ardovino, USA, (76.5) 81
39. Karin Friberg, USA, (78) 80.5