ZAO, Japan (AP) - Japanese teenager Sara Takanashi won her eighth women’s ski jump World Cup event of the season Sunday to bolster her position as the favorite for the Sochi Olympics.
Takanashi won with a jump of 98 meters for 127.5 points. Germany’s Carina Vogt was second at 96 meters followed by Bigna Windmuellaer of Switzerland, who had a jump of 91 meters.
The second round of jumps was canceled due to high winds.
“The conditions were difficult again today but I was able to make a good jump,” Takanashi said. “With only a few weeks to go before the Olympics I’m just trying to concentrate on the basics and keep improving.”
It was the 17th career win for the 17-year-old Takanashi, who will be the overwhelming favorite to become the sport’s first female Olympic champion next month when women’s ski jumping makes its debut.
Takanashi has won all but one of nine world cup events this season and has 860 points in the overall standings, 314 points ahead of Vogt.
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