COC-M: Japanese jumpers dominate in Ruka
Dec 14, 2019·Ski Jumping
For the second time in this still young season of the Continental Cup, Keiichi Sato and Taku Takeuchi secured a 1-2 finish for the team of Japan. In Vikersund a week ago, Takeuchi won ahead of his teammate, in Ruka (FIN) it was now the other way around.
Keiichi Sato was already in the lead after the first round with 137.5 m and then claimed his second win in the COC with the longest jump of the day of 142 m and 293.7 points. The first time he stood on top of the podium was last summer in Schuchinsk.
Taku Takeuchi also proved his currently strong shape once again this winter and finished second with 137.5 m and 138 m and 285.0 points.
The third place went to Austria's Clemens Leitner, who could equal his career-best COC result with jumps of 136.5 m and 132 m and 276.6 points.
Sondre Ringen of Norway came in fourth, followed by the best German of the day, Martin Hamann, in fifth. Best of the Slovenes was Bor Pavlovcic in sixth, behind Norwegian Andreas Granerud Buskum, Pavlovcic' 17-year-old teammate Jernej Presecnik convinced with a strong eighth place.
Luca Roth of Germany was ninth, Halvor Egner Granerud of Norway moved up from 22nd to tenth with a very good jump in the second round.
Mico Ahonen, the 18-year-old son of Ski Jumping legend Janne Ahonen, is also competing in Ruka and scored his first-ever Continental Cup point in 30th today.
The two Japanese Taku Takeuchi (225 points) and Keiichi Sato (216 points) lead the overall ranking ahead of Sondre Ringen (180 points).
Sunday's competition in Ruka starts already at 9 am CET.
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