56th Four-Hills-Tournament 3.1.2008

At the half-way point of the 56th Four-Hills-Tournament, Team Austria continues to dominate as it has done during the e.on Ruhrgas FIS World Cup Ski Jumping season so far. Following another imposing victory in the opening competition in Oberstdorf (GER) Thomas Morgenstern now has seven of the nine season victories in his name. In front of 22'000 spectators, Morgenstern delivered a bomb of a jump, landing at 141.5 meters in the final round. In the second competition, held on the new hill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, his teammate Gregor Schlierenzauer ensured that the top of the podium remained in Austrian control. Leading after the first round, the 33-year-old veteran Janne Ahonen of Finland missed his first World Cup victory in two years, but finished 2nd, his 100th career World Cup podium.

Schlierenzauer's second jump was not only the day's longest jump (141 m) but also a new hill record. Germany's Michael Neumayer surprised in front of a home audience in 3rd, his first career podium.

In the Tournament rankings, Schlierenzauer now leads with 555.1 points just 3.2 and 3.4 points, respectively, ahead of Morgenstern and Ahonen. 4th placed Tom Hilde is already 22 points behind them. Ahonen's chances at sixth Tournament win are still intact; he currently shares the record of five Tournament wins with Jens Weissflog (GER).

After nine of the 28 World Cup competitions, Morgenstern now leads the overall rankings with 800 points, 191 points ahead of Schlierenzauer and 385 points ahead of Ahonen.

(FIS)