Lake Placid, New York (October 10th, 2023) – The 2023 USA Nordic National Championships got underway this evening at the Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex with the HS128 Large Hill event. Annika Belshaw placed first overall in the women’s competition, followed by Paige Jones in second and Josie Johnson in third. Erik Belshaw then finished first overall in the men’s competition, with Tate Frantz in second and Andrew Urlaub in third.
Women’s Ski Jumping HS128 National Championship
In the first round of action, Annika Belshaw jumped to 113.5 meters for 105.7 points, putting her first overall for the final round. Jones was then able to jump to 105.5 meters in the first round, giving her 90.4 points and putting her in second overall for the final round. Johnson was right behind Jones, going 105.0 meters in the first round, giving her 88.2 points and putting her in third place for the final round.
Johnson then went 95.0 meters for her final jump (72.2 points), giving her 160.4 points on the day, as she secured third overall. Jones jumped to 103.5 meters (89.6 points) in the final round, giving her 180.0 points on the day, carding a second place finish. Annika Belshaw was then able to hold off Jones and Johnson, soaring to 111.5 meters (104.9 points), giving her 210.6 points on the day, earning the first place finish. With this national title, Belshaw has now won three Large Hill Nationals in a row.
Men’s Ski Jumping HS128 National Championship
Following the women, the men then took the hill. Erik Belshaw was able to record a 127.0 meter jump in the first round, putting him in first place for the final round with 134.0 points. Urlaub then jumped to 128.0 meters, notching 132.6 points, and placing him second overall for the final round of action. Frantz also put together a 128.0 meter jump, scoring 130.9 points, as he found himself in third overall for the final round.
In the final round, Urlaub was unable to best his jump from the first round, going 123.0 meters (134.0 points), giving him 266.6 total points on the day, securing third overall. Frantz kept his consistency, going 128.0 meters yet again (140.5 points), as he was able to edge out Urlaub with 271.4 total points, earning a second place finish. Erik Belshaw then kept his momentum going from the first round, throwing down a 130.0 meter jump (151.1 points), giving him the first overall finish. With today’s victory, Belshaw is now a National Champion for the first time in his Ski Jumping career.
