LAKE PLACID — The United States men’s ski jumping team concluded the final two stops of the Four Hills Tournament this week in Austria. The action began in Innsbruck, as Kevin Bickner, Tate Frantz and Andrew Urlaub all qualified for competition. In the event, Bickner and Frantz delivered strong performances, securing top-30 finishes in 22nd and 23rd place, respectively. Urlaub finished 50th.

In the grand finale in Bischofshofen, Frantz, of Lake Placid, set the tone early with an impressive 11th place in qualification. Bickner and Urlaub also earned spots in the competition. The day ended with a standout showing from the U.S. team, placing two athletes in the top-15. Frantz secured 13th place, defeating his knock-out opponent Keiichi Sato of Japan, while Bickner claimed 14th place, advancing to the final round through the lucky loser pool.

These solid performances capped off a strong Four Hills Tournament for the U.S. team. Frantz finished 14th overall in the tournament standings, with Bickner closing in 28th. A promising showing for the team on one of ski jumping’s biggest stages.

The men’s squad will next jump in Zakopane, Poland from Jan. 17 to 19.

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Women’s jumping

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The ladies concluded the Two Nights Tour, with competitions held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberstdorf, Germany, before traveling to Villach, Austria.

Annika Belshaw, the sole U.S. athlete to qualify on both days, delivered an impressive performance. On Sunday, she placed 31st, and on Monday, she soared to a 17th place finish, achieving a new personal best.

The women’s team will compete next in Sapporo, Japan from Jan. 17 to 19.

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Continental cup

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Estella Hassrick competed in the Intercontinental Cup in Falun, Sweden, over the weekend, delivering steady performances on both days. She earned points in each competition, finishing 24th on Saturday and 25th on Sunday.

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World Junior Qualifiers

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The second and third World Junior Qualifiers of the season took place in Lake Placid, this past weekend, showcasing impressive performances from athletes across North America.

For the women, Sandra Sproch of the Norge Ski Club claimed victory on Saturday, with Ella Wilson of Steamboat placing second and Kai McKinnon of Lake Placid and the New York Ski Educational Foundation rounding out the podium in third.

On Sunday, Wilson turned the tables, taking first place while Sproch finished second. Rayna Leachman from Canada secured the third spot on the podium.

In the men’s competition, Henry Loher of NYSEF dominated the weekend, taking first place on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Sawyer Graves of Steamboat finished second, followed by Canada’s Tarik VanWieren in third. Sunday’s competition saw VanWieren move up to second place, while Arthur Tyrone of Steamboat claimed third.