Olympian Jana Lindsey (Black Hawk, SD) took advantage of a strong qualifying effort by the U.S. women to finish a career best fourth Sunday in a World Cup freestyle aerials competition in Changchun. Mengtau Xu took the women's crown.
It had looked more promising for the U.S. women, with all three qualifying in the top seven - including Emily Cook (Belmont, MA) in second. But only Lindsey was able to move up in the second round as the Chinese came with twists and flips blazing.
Lindsey jumped to fourth after the qualifying round on a full full (two flips, two twists), holding her spot in the finals with a triple twisting double flip.
"Jana jumped really well," said Head Freestyle Coach Jeff Wintersteen. "She put two jumps together which we were really pleased with. She was fifth at Worlds so she can jump with these girls."
Cook saw her second place qualifying evaporate when she failed to fully execute one of the double twists on her second jump and missed the landing and dropped to 12th. "She just got caught up on the double in (two twists on first of two flips) and was late," said Wintersteen.
Lacy Schnoor (Draper, UT) also made finals, finishing ninth.
The Team will arrive in Steamboat Monday with training Tuesday and Wednesday before the Olympic Trials competition Thursday morning.
OFFICIAL RESULTS FIS Freestyle World Cup Changchun, China - Dec. 20, 2009 Aerials
