Football
Associated Press 18y

Kuettel, Kofler share lead in qualifying for normal hill

PRAGELATO, Italy -- Lars Bystoel of Norway, the leader in
qualifying for the normal hill ski jumping event, was eliminated
Saturday for violating suit regulations, putting Andreas Kuettel
and Andreas Kofler at the head of the field for Sunday's final.

Kuettel, of Switzerland, had a jump of 104 meters and shared
first place with Kofler of Austria, who jumped 103.5 meters. Both
had 134.5 points.

Finland's Janne Ahonen had the day's longest jump of 104.5
meters and was third with 133.5 points.

Defending double Olympic champion Simon Ammann of Switzerland
overcame a fall in a trial earlier Saturday and qualified with a
jump of 92 meters for a share of 46th place.

Ammann, who won gold in the large and normal hill events in Salt
Lake City, had a clean jump but his skis crossed on landing and he
somersaulted once and slid onto his back in the finish area. He had
to be carried off on a stretcher.

Meanwhile, Japanese veteran Masahiko Harada was disqualified
from the normal hill competition for having skis that were too long
for his weight.

Harada said he weighed 7 ounces less than he should have.

"Of course, it was all my fault. I feel responsible," he said.
"I came to Torino to participate in the normal hill, but I can't
do it now."

He can still compete in the large hill and team events.

Two other jumpers were disqualified for problems with their
suits -- Nikolay Karpenko of Kazakhstan and Sigurd Pettersen of
Norway.

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