Stefan Kraft wins first qualification in Oberstdorf
Mar 18, 2022·Ski Jumping
Austria's Stefan Kraft won the first of two qualifications at the Ski Flying World Cup in Oberstdorf (GER) on Friday evening. Kraft posted a jump of 225.5 m (230.7 points) and came in ahead of Slovenia's Anze Lanisek and Norway's Bendik Jakobsen Heggli.
"The training already went well today and I'm totally satisfied with the jump in the qualification. For me, it can continue like that this weekend", said Kraft, who took home the prize money of CHF 5,000.-.
Behind team World Champion Anze Lanisek in second, Noway's Bendik Jakobsen Heggli was the surprise of the day with his third place. With bib 22, Heggli jumped on 226 m and finished on the surprisingly strong third place in this qualification. It's only the third World Cup start for Heggli, two weeks ago he was 20th and 42nd in his debut in Oslo.
Karl Geiger was the best German in fourth, Ski Flying World Champion Marius Lindvik followed in fifth. Dawid Kubacki and Piotr Zyla achieved solid results for the Polish team in eighth and eleventh, but it will be difficult for them to achieve a top result this weekend in Oberstdorf. Andreas Wellinger finished 12th, Ryoyu Kobayashi was 13th and will have to improve if he wants to defend the yellow bib against Karl Geiger on Saturday.
Various well-known athletes were among the 26 athletes who failed to make the cut in today's qualification, like Stephan Leyhe (42nd) and Switzerland's Killian Peier (57th).
The competition on Saturday starts at 4 pm CET.
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