INNSBRUCK, Austria -- Finland's Janne Ahonen won his third
straight leg of the Four Hills ski jump Monday, moving within one
victory of sweeping the prestigious event. He has captured 10 of 11
World Cup competitions this season.
Ahonen won the two-jump event in strong wind at the Berg Isel
Olympic venue with 243.8 points. Adam Malysz of Poland was second
at 236.8 and Jakub Janda of the Czech Republic was third at 232.5.
After victories in Oberstdorf and Garmisch in Germany, Ahonen
now needs to win Thursday in Bischofschofen, Austria, to complete
the Four Hills grand slam. The only jumper to sweep Four Hills was
Germany's Sven Hannawald three years ago.
Ahonen leads the Four Hills standings with 772.3 points,
followed by Malysz (723.2) and Austria's Thomas Morgenstern
(721.6).
Last year's Four Hills winner, Sigurd Pettersen of Norway, was
second after the opening jump but landed 20 meters short of Ahonen
on the second leg and finished 23rd.