Malysz soars hill record in qualifying

The runaway World Cup leader and Four Hill Tour winner Malysz destroyed the opposition as local hope Janne Ahonen was a distant second with 122.5m.

Austria's Andreas Goldberger was third with 119.5m while defending champion Martin Schmitt of Germany managed only 114m.

Poland have won several minor ski jumping medals at the worlds, but never a gold. Their biggest success to date was Wojciech Fortuna's gold at the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo.

But Malysz, 23, is the all-out favourite for Sunday's large hill event on the K-116m hill after he overcame some poor years with stunning results this season. Malysz has won eight of the last 10 World Cup events and there seems to be no one in sight to stop him.

Meanwhile, the Austrian lineup will not include Andreas Widhoelzl, who has failed to regain his form after witnessing the death of his head coach Alois Lipburger. Widhoelzl was not selected after poor jumps Friday.

"Extraordinary things have happened. He is just not able to deal with the situation right now," caretaker coach Toni Innauer said.

Innauer added that the 2000 Four Hill champion Widhoelzl may also have to watch the other three ski jump events in Lahti from the stands: "I will have to talk to him about his future at these world championships."

Widhoelzl and Lipburger were passengers when their car driven by another jumper, Martin Hoellwarth, skidded off a German road in icy conditions and crashed against a tree on February 4. Lipburger died in the tragic incident. Police said that Hoellwarth had not been speeding.

The Austrians decided to compete in Lahti despite the tragedy. Widhoelzl and Hoellwarth resumed training Tuesday.

Hoellwarth, a team bronze medallist from the 1999 event and three-times Olympic silver medallist back in 1992, regained his form quickly and recorded 110.5m Saturday.

Like Malysz, Ahonen, Schmitt and the other World Cup leaders, Hoellwarth was automatically qualified for Sunday's competition by ranking protection.

(kil/dpa)