Men’s Nordic Combined Large Hill/10km Recap: Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022
02/15/2022 01:41PM ● By USA Nordic
Photo courtesy of USA Nordic
Zhangjiakou, China (February 15, 2022) – After a great showing in their first competition, Men’s Nordic Combined was able to have three top 25 finishers in the Individual Large Hill/10km event on Tuesday at the Zhangjiakou National Cross-Country Centre.
Jared Shumate led the pack, as he was able to post another top 20 finish, placing 17th overall. On the Large Hill, Shumate placed 19th overall with a 127.5 meter jump, putting him +2:34 behind the leader to start the 10km. He then climbed to his 17th overall finish with a total time of 26:24.5.
“I’m very psyched to have gotten another top twenty, I can’t be upset about that,” said Shumate. “I fought hard during every second of that race, but I lost a couple spots in the last lap. Overall, I thought I skied well, and placing seventeenth was a step up from the first day. I usually struggle a little bit more on the large hill, so I was happy to put a good jump down and start the race in the top twenty.”
Ben Loomis was close behind, as he carded yet another top 20 finish as well, placing 19th overall. This is a new personal best at the Olympic Winter Games for Loomis in the Large Hill/10km, after finishing 40th overall in PyeongChang 2018. After posting a 129.0 meter jump on the hill, Loomis started the 10km in 17th, +2:26 behind the leader. He then finished the 10km race with a course time of 26:51.2 for a 19th place finish.
“I’m happy with how today went, overall it was just a solid day. Result wise, I placed seventeenth again after jumping, just like the normal hill,” said Loomis. “However, I was happier with the jump that I put down today. Looking forward to the team event on Thursday, I’m very excited. We’re in a pretty good spot as a team, everyone is skiing well and having some great jumps.”
Taylor Fletcher was then able to place 23rd overall, his second best overall finish at the Olympic Winter Games in this event, as he finished 20th overall in Sochi 2014. After his jump on the Large Hill, Fletcher found himself in 35th with a 117.0 meter jump, +3:54 behind the leader to start the 10km. Fletcher was then able to vault himself to a 23rd overall finish, as he finished the race with a time of 25:42.7.
“I’ve been one of the strongest skiers on this circuit for a while, and to have a race like that was a lot of fun,” said Fletcher. “It’s one thing to race fast from the front, but to be able to come through groups on the course and drop them is a good feeling.”
Jasper Good then achieved an Olympic Winter Games personal best of his own, as he was able to finish 34th overall, after finishing the Large Hill/10km in 41st at PyeongChang 2018. On the hill, Good was able to post a 115.5 meter jump, placing him in 36th and +4:00 behind the leader in the 10km. He then finished the course in 27:32.9 to card a 24th overall finish.
“I think that the race went pretty well, racing at this elevation is a great help for me. Overall, it just felt like a better day and the team did great,” said Good. “I’m very psyched about my personal best at the Olympics in this event, and I’m also very proud to be representing the U.S. Army in this Olympics as well.”
Men’s Nordic Combined will be back in action on Thursday, February 17th, as they will compete in the Team Large Hill/4x5km event. Check below to see how you can watch and support USA Nordic as they continue at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.