FALUN, Sweden (Feb. 22, 2015) - Sarah Hendrickson (Park City, UT) soared to two of her best jumps of the season in the mixed gender team event, as the USA finished seventh. Her teammate Nita Englund (Florence, WI) was also strong. A crash by Nick Alexander (Lebanon, NH) spoiled his best ride of the night and sent him to the hospital for evaluation of a knee injury.
Englund opened up the evening with a strong 94.0 meter jump. Alexander came back the next round with 82.5. Jumping in the third round, Hendrickson uncorked the longest ride of the evening - men or women - flying 98.5 meters and lighting up a huge smile!
In the second round, Alexander hit a strong 90.5-meter ride, but buckled on landing and slid to the bottom. He was concious and alert but was transported to a local hospital for evaluation of a left knee injury.
On her second jump, Hendrickson went 94.0 meters - leading both of her competition rounds.
"I had a blast," said a exuberant Hendrickson. "My jumps were a little bit better technically, but the wind conditions were a lot better for me today. I think I had the furthest jump of the day out of boys and girls first and second round, so that’s really exciting for me."
Nita Englund soars into the setting sun over Falun in the mixed team event Sunday. (Getty Images-Matthias Hangst)
Englund was buoyed with confidence after setting aside nervousness in her World Championship debut with the individual event Friday. "I’m just taking it in as a first shot," said Englund. "I was still a bit nervous and overwhelmed. Falun was great and it puts more experience in the book. I think Sarah and I both jumped better than we did in the individual. It shows that it’s better when you are pulling for your team members."
Rhoads, also jumping in his first Championships, was soaking in the experience - pushing out to 83.5 meters on his second jump. He was especially looking forward to next weekend's large hill competition.
The mixed team event closed out the Championships for the women, who wrap up their FIS Ski Jumping World Cup season March 13-15 on the large hill at Holmenkollen in Oslo.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The USA finished seventh, one spot lower than in the event's debut two years ago in Val di Fiemme.
- Sarah Hendrickson led both her rounds and recorded the longest jump of the day at 98.5 meters
- Nick Alexander went 90.5 meters on his second jump but crashed. He was concious and alert the entire time and taken to a local hospital for evaluation of a possible left knee injury.
QUOTES
Sarah Hendrickson
My jumps were a little bit better technically, but the wind conditions were a lot better for me today. I had a blast. I think I had the furthest jump of the day out of boys and girls first and second round, so that’s really exciting.
The mixed team event is really fun. It’s awesome just being with the World Cup guys. I look up to them so much, and to be at the top with them is really cool. I enjoyed it, and hopefully it will be an Olympic event in the future.
Nita Englund
I jumped better in the team event than in the individual competition. I was really happy to get another chance to gain experience in competition. I¹m still not really sure what to do. In the first competition I was pretty nervous.
I think Sarah and I both jumped better than we did in the individual. It shows that it’s better when you are pulling for your team members.
I’m just taking it in as a first shot. I was still a bit nervous and overwhelmed. Falun was great and it puts more experience in the book.
RESULTS
Official Results
