Planica, Slovenia (March 1, 2023) – Women’s Ski Jumping competed in the Individual HS138 Event earlier today at the 2023 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Annika Belshaw and Sam Macuga were able to qualify, and represented the United States during Women’s Ski Jumping’s final competition in Planica.
Along with Belshaw and Macuga, Josie Johnson and Paige Jones also participated in the HS138 Qualification on February 28th. Macuga was the first athlete to earn a qualification spot, as she jumped to 109.0 meters for 65.3 points, landing in 38th place. Belshaw followed in 34th, after going 110.5 meters for 70.8 points. Johnson and Jones were unable to qualify for the Individual HS138 World Championship, with Johnson going 101.0 meters (52.0 points) and Jones landing at 99.0 meters (26.6 points), in a highly contested qualification round with difficult conditions.
During the first round of the Individual HS138 World Championship, Macuga was able to put together a 96.5 meter jump for 79.1 points, placing her 36th overall. Belshaw followed in 32nd, as she went 108.0 meters for 83.5 points, as both athletes were unable to advance to the final round.
“Overall, I’m very satisfied with the performance put together by the girls at this year’s World Championships. At the end of the day, they’re working very hard and they’ve been able to see their peers up on the podium. I think the most valuable experience for them, was to be here with the Norwegian Ski Jumpers, and to see what it really takes to medal at World Championships,” said USA Nordic Men’s and Women’s Ski Jumping Coach, Anders Johnson. “I think in two years, these are the athletes that we are hoping to see earn top-level results. I hope that this was a positive learning experience for them, it was for myself, as a coach. For us, as a program, this was exactly what we needed.”
With the conclusion of the Individual HS138 Event, Women’s Ski Jumping has wrapped up competition at the 2023 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Women’s Ski Jumping will be back in action on March 10th, as they will compete at the first stop in the Raw Air Tournament in Oslo, Norway.
Results
Women’s Ski Jumping HS138 Qualification – 2023 World Championships (2/28)
