Sara Takanashi became the winner of Friday’s FIS Continental Cup competition at Bergisel hill (HS128) in Innsbruck. The Japanese athlete was better than second Alexandra Kustova and third Yuki Ito.
Sara Takanashi, who decided to start in the Continental Cup during her preparations to the Olympics, reached 121.5 and 124 meters from the gate 14. Alexandra Kustova finished second – with a loss of less than five points. The 23-year-old athlete from Magadan jumped 125.5 meters (gate 16) and 131.5 meters (gate 18). The final result of the Russian is the women’s Bergisel hill record. Takanashi’s teammate – Yuki Ito (120.5 meters; gate 16 and 127 meters; gate 18) stood on the lowest step of the podium.
For Takanashi it was the first start in the FIS Continental Cup since February 18, 2012, when in Liberec she was third, behind Sara Hendrickson and Daniela Iraschko-Stolz. The living legend of the women’s FIS World Cup in jumping won the last time on the “Second League” event on November 29, 2011 in Rovaniemi.
Another COC competition in Innsbruck is planned on Saturday. The start is scheduled for 9:45 CET. The trial round will start at 9:00 CET.