Teen Takanashi second in ski jump

Fifteen-year-old ski jumper Sara Takanashi recorded her first World Cup podium finish on Sunday, placing second in an event in Hinterzarten, Germany.

Takanashi, Japan's medal hope for the first-ever women's Olympic ski jumping competition in Sochi in 2014, made leaps of 100.5 and 99.5 meters on the K-95 hill to collect 242.6 points.

She became the first Japanese to stand on the podium in three events held so far on the inaugural World Cup ski jumping circuit for women and moved up to third in the Cup rankings.

"It's the greatest feeling I've ever had," said Takanashi, who was fifth and 17th in the first two events, respectively.

"I couldn't get my body to do what I wanted it to do the previous day because of heavy snow and strong winds. But today I was ready for such weather conditions. I'm so happy and surprised I was able to get a good result," she said.

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