Notodden, Norway – Light snowfall was the backdrop for women’s ski jumping competition at the K90 hill Friday in Notodden 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.nIraschko jumped 97.0 and 95.5 meters; Jerome, of Park City, Utah, 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, also of Park City, was second heading into the second round, but fell to seventh after her second jump (94.5 and 90 meters).

Friday’s results put Jerome in second place overall in the Continental Cup standings 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.

Continental Cup
Notodden, Norway
Dec. 17, 2010
Women’s HS98 Ski Jumping

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