BAIERSBRONN, Germany (Jan. 18) - The U.S. Ski Team's Lindsey Van (Park City, UT) capped a strong weekend with her first Continental Cup win in two years to move into the series lead. Van, second in Saturday's opening jump, came from behind with a strong second jump to take a dominating three point win Sunday over Norway's Anette Sagen.

The win came in a pressure packed event where Van, standing a distant eighth after the first round to Austria's Daniela Iraschko, needed a powerful second jump to get onto the podium. The veteran jumper was up to the task, launching the longest ride of the day at 88.5 meters to move into the lead. Sagen took a shot, but could only muster 84.5 meters. It all came down to the Austrian, who missed her jump, going only 65.0 meters to drop all the way down to 12th.

"I am very happy with the competition today," said Van. "It was close and exciting and while the conditions were challenging, it is ski jumping and it feels great to have a win."

While Van's thoughts were focused Sunday on the win, she and the other Continental Cup athletes have a more significant target next month with the debut of their sport in the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic. "All the women ski jumpers are excited about the season and the FIS World Championship just a month away."

The win for Van was her first since the season ending weekend in Sapporo, Japan in 2007.

Van's win boosted her from third to first in the Continental Cup standings as she overtook Germany's Ulrike Graessler. The German had dominated the series early with a string of five straight podiums before dropping to a pair of ninths over the weekend. Germany's Anna Haefele, who opened the winter series with a sweep of two events at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, dropped to third.

Saturday Van led after the first round with a jump of 87.0 meters. And whlie she came back even stronger in the second round with 88.0 meters, Iraschko went a half-meter longer and took the win 238.0-236.5 over Van. American Alissa Johnson (Park City, UT) was fifth for her best finish of the winter season.

The circuit now heads to Toblach, Italy for an event Wednesday, then on to Ljubno, Slovenia for a pair of competitions next Saturday and Sunday.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS WOMEN'S SKI JUMPING CONTINENTAL CUP
Baiersbronn, Germany - Jan. 17
HS94
1. Daniela Iraschko Austria, (86.5-88.5) 238.0
2. Lindsey Van, Park City, UT, (87.0-88.0) 236.5
3. Anette Sagen, Norway, (86.5-88.5) 234.5
4. Magdalena Schnurr, Germany, (85.0-87.5) 232.5
5. Alissa Johnson, Park City, UT (80.5-85.5) 216.5
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19. Jessica Jerome, Park City, UT (77.0-76.5) 186.0
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OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS WOMEN'S SKI JUMPING CONTINENTAL CUP
Baiersbronn, Germany - Jan. 18
HS94
1. Lindsey Van, Park City, UT, (83.0-88.5) 229.0
2. Anette Sagen, Norway, (87.0-84.5) 226.0
3. Line Jahr, Norway, (84.0-85.5) 223.5
4. Jenna Mohr, Germany, (81.5-85.5) 219.0
5. Evelyn Insam, Italy, (87.0-80.0) 216.0
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15. Jessica Jerome, Park City, UT, (78.5-77.5) 192.5
17. Alissa Johnson, Park City, UT, (75.0-79.0) 192.5
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