Anchorage Daily News

Sarah Hendrickson picked a fine time to be a ski jumper.

Two weeks after women knocked down the gender barrier at the world ski jumping championships, Hendrickson put down jumps at the Karl Eid Ski Jumps that made her the equal of almost any boy competing Thursday in the Junior Olympic ski jumping championships.

A 14-year-old from Park City, Utah, Hendrickson recorded jumps of 64.5 and 64 meters to win the girls competition as the three-day national meet opened in Anchorage. The effort would have earned Hendrickson -- the only girl to hit the 60-meter mark -- a share of the bronze medal had she competed against the boys.

Christian Friberg took the gold among the boys with 228.6 points earned with jumps of 64.5 and 65 meters. Hyrum Bailey took silver with jumps of 65 and 63.5 meters and Will Rhoads took bronze with jumps of 64.5 and 64 meters. Friberg is from the Central Division and Bailey and Rhoads are from the Intermountain Division.

In nordic combined, which combines ski jumping and cross country, gold medals went to Tyler Smith of Park City and Nina Lussi of the East Division.

Junior Olympic Ski Jumping

Karl Eid Ski Jumps

and Kincaid Park

Thursday's results

Boys nordic combined (ski jumping and 5-K freestyle ski) (top five) -- 1) Tyler Smith, Intermountain, 13:30.7; 2) Erik Lynch, Rocky Mountain, 14:02.3; 3) Hyrum Bailey, Intermountian, 14:21.5; 4) Zach Daniels, East, 15:03.1; 5) Aleck Gantick, Rocky Mountin, 16:00.8.

Girls nordic combined -- 1) Nina Lussi, East, 18:02.3; 2) Kamber Kissell, Intermountain, 20:26.7; 3) Mary O'Connell, Rocky Mountain, 21:29.6; 4) Madison Keeffe, Rocky Mountain, 22:27.6; 5) Emily Hannah, Rocky Mountain, 22:55.7.

Ski jumping

Boys -- 1) Christian Friberg, Central (64.5 meters, 65 meters); 2) Hyrum Bailey, Intermountain (65, 63.5); 3) Will Rhoads, Intermountain (64, 64.5).

Girls -- 1) Sarah Hendrickson, Intermountain (64.5, 64); 2) Nina Lussi, East (56, 59.5); 3) Kamber Kissell, Intermountain (49.5, 49.5).

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