SAPPORO, Japan (AP) — Japanese teenager Sara Takanashi won the women’s ski jump World Cup event on Saturday to claim her fifth title of the season and bolster her status as favorite for the Sochi Olympics.
Takanashi had jumps of 99 and 94.5 meters for a total of 254.5 points to extend her lead in the World Cup standings. Takanashi is looking to become the sport’s first female Olympic champion next month when women’s ski jumping makes its debut in Sochi.
Takanashi had won every event this season until being beaten by Russia’s Irina Avvakumova a week ago in Chaikovsky, Russia. Avvakumova was third in Saturday’s event with 224.1 points behind Carina Vogt of Germany who had 240.7 points.
The 17-year-old Takanashi has 560 points in the overall standings, 174 points ahead of Vogt.
