German jumper Späth poised to win Four Nations

COURCHEVEL, France — Finland’s Harri Olli won Sunday’s third event in the FIS Grand Prix/Four Nations Tournament, and Germany’s Georg Späth moved into the tournament lead with one event remaining.
COURCHEVEL, France — Finland’s Harri Olli won Sunday’s third event in the FIS Grand Prix/Four Nations Tournament, and Germany’s Georg Späth moved into the tournament lead with one event remaining.
    Olli jumped 126.5 meters and scored 260.4 points on the Courchevel hill to edge Späth, who also jumped 126.5 but scored 258.9 points. Swiss Simon Ammann finished third, jumping 127 meters but scoring just 258.6 points.
    “I’m feeling great after this victory today. I enjoyed first time jumping during this summer tour, it was the first time I could jump free,” Olli said. “The reason for this is probably that I like big hills like this one in Courchevel much more than the smaller ones in Hinterzarten and Einsiedeln.
I will do my best in the last competition in Pragelato on Tuesday.”
    Späth was happy with Sunday’s second-place showing, adding that he believes Austria’s Gregor Schlierenzauer will be the favorite in Pragelato despite suffering a fall in Sunday’s competition while landing a jump of 143.5 meters.
    “I don’t understand the decisions of the Jury today. The Jury was wrong with the length of the in-run in both rounds. How can that happen?” Schlierenzauer said. “From my point of view it  was absolutely dangerous. I risked my health.”

2008 FIS Grand Prix overall standing after 3 of 9 competitions:
1. Georg Späth, GER 230 points
2. Andreas Kofler, AUT 220 points
3. Gregor Schlierenzauer, AUT 170 points
4. Thomas Morgenstern AUT 165 points

2008 Four Nations Tournament standing after 3 of 4 competitions
1. Georg Späth GER 670.7 points
2.  Andreas Kofler AUT 658.6 points
3. Thomas Morgenstern AUT 644.5 points