Lodwick wins record-tying seventh national title

Lodwick wins record-tying seventh national title{mosimage}STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (March 25) – Todd Lodwick (Steamboat Springs, CO) tied Lars Haugen for the most U.S. ski jumping championships Friday when he won his seventh, capturing the normal hill (K90) competition at Howelsen Hill to tie a 77-year-old record.

In stable conditions following a snowstorm that rolled through Steamboat on the first day of the U.S. Ski Jumping Championships, he jumped 93 and 95.5 meters for 246.0 points. Silver medalist for the second straight day was Clint Jones (also Steamboat), who jumped 92.5 meters and 94 for 243.0 points with Tommy Schwall (also Steamboat) in third place for the second day in a row.

Jessica Jerome (Park City, UT) jumped 84.5 and 87 meters for 204.0 points in breezing to the women’s normal hill championship with Lindsey Van (also Park City) – Thursday’s large hill gold medalist – taking silver (191.5 on jumps of 78.5 and 86.5 meters). Alissa Johnson (also Park City) was bronze medalist for the second time in 24 hours.

“It was a good competition. Like they always do,” Lodwick said, “the hill crew did an unbelievable job after [Thursday’s] storm and conditions were really good, and it was a good track. I liked it.”

Winning his 15th U.S. title “is pretty nice. But it really just means I’m getting old,” said Lodwick, a three-time Olympian who turns 30 in November.

Lodwick, who holds the U.S. record with eight nordic combined crowns, has won six consecutive national jumping and nordic combined titles. He swept all three titles last season and this week at Howelsen.

Haugen, a Norwegian immigrant, won seven U.S. jumping championships between 1912-28.

“It was really tight and came down to the last jump,” said Corby Fisher, U.S. jumping head coach. “And in some ways, that’s our season – so close, so close…

“I saw some good things out there [Thursday] and today, and now we’ll get to work on making improvements for next season.”

2005 U.S. SKI JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Howelsen Hill
Steamboat Springs, CO – March 25, 2005
Normal Hill (K90)
(Jumping distances in meters)

Men
1. Todd Lodwick, Steamboat Springs, Colo., (93-95.5 meters) 246.0 points
2. Clint Jones, Steamboat Springs, Colo., (92.5-94) 243.0
3. Tommy Schwall, Steamboat Springs, Colo., (89-92.5) 230.0
4. Bill Demong, Vermontville, N.Y., (88.5-93.5) 228.5
5. Carl Van Loan, Webster, N.H., (87-90.5) 221.5
—
Women
1. Jessica Jerome, Park City, Utah, (84.5-87) 204.0
2. Lindsey Van, Park City, Utah, (78.5-86.5) 191.5
3. Alissa Johnson, Park City, Utah, (78.5-83.5) 183.0
4. Karla Keck, Oconomowoc, Wis., (71.5-80) 154.5
5. Abby Hughes, Park City, Utah, (69=72), 133.