http://www.usskiteam.com

Friday, Dec. 29, 2000
*****************************
SCHMITT WINS IN OBERSTDORF

OBERSTDORF, Germany (Dec. 29) - The ruhrgas World Cup ski jumping
schedule resumed Friday after a weather-caused four-week hiatus, and the
pattern was the same: Martin Schmitt of Germany was the winner.

In the opening event of the annual Springertournee, the Siemens Four
Hill Tournament, Schmitt unloaded a jump of 133 meters for the 24th
victory of his career. Coupled with his first jump of 119 meters, the
reigning World Cup jumping champion had 268.6 points. Second and third
place went to Japanese skiers - Noriaki Kasai in second (263.5) on jumps
of 116.5 and 128.5 with Masahiko Harada third (259.5) after jumps of
119.5 and 128 meters. No Americans qualified.

It was the third win in four events this season for Schmitt. First-round
leader Martin Hoellwarth of Austria, who had jumped 126 meters, had
problems with his second takeoff and plummeted to 15th place with a
114.5-meter jump.

The jumping schedule has taken a beating, like so many other ski
competitions in Europe, because of the lingering snow drought and
unseasonally warm temperatures. Two events Dec. 2-3 in Lillehammer,
Norway, were shifted to Kuopio, Finland, and were the last jump meets
held; a competition in Ramsau, Austria, plus two in Liberec, Czech
Republic, and two more in Engelberg, Switzerland, were scrubbed because
of low or no snow.

The Springertournee continues Monday with the traditional New Year's Day
competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen before the four-meet tournee
swings into Austria for events Jan. 4 in Innsbruck and Jan. 6 in
Bischofshofen.

ruhrgas WORLD CUP SKI JUMPING
Oberstdorf, GER - Dec. 29
120-meter (Jump distances in meters)
1. Martin Schmitt, Germany, (119-133 meters) 268.6 points
2. Noriaki Kasai, Japan, (116.5-128.5) 263.5
3. Masahiko Harada, Japan, (119.5-128) 259.5
4. Adam Malysz, Poland, (116.5-132.5) 257.7
5. Sven Hannawald, Germany, (121-122) 252.4
6. Stefan Horngacher, Austria, (115.5-127.5) 249.4
7. Stefan Kaiser, Austria, (115-120.5) 239.4
8. Alexander Herr, Germany, (115-116.5) 233.7
9. Janne Ahonen, Finland, (111-119) 233.5
10. Christoph Duffner, Germany, (115.5-117.5) 231.4
11. Matti Hautamaeki, Finland, 227.6
12. Peter Zonta, Slovenia, (111-116.5) 225.0
13. Jani Soininen, Finland, (112.5-115) 224.5
14. Wolfgang Loitzl, Austria, (110-115.5) 224.4
15. Martin Hoellwarth, Austria, (126-114.5) 222.9
No Americans competed
-
ruhrgas World Cup Ski Jumping (4 events)
1. Schmitt, 345 points
2. Hautamaeki, 210
3. Hannawald, 175
4. (tie) Ahonen and Kasai, 173 each
6. Loitzl, 112
7. Jure Redelj, Slovenia, 107
8. Ville Kantee, Finland, 102
9. Andreas Widhoelzl, Austria, 84
10. Harada, 83

                                      - Best in the World! -