The new world’s best junior: Ondrej Pazout

Ondrej Pazout (CZE) is the new Junior World Champions 2018 over the distance of 10 km. Pazout was the best after a jump of 103 metres (139.4 p.) and he still was the best after crossing the finish line after 23 minutes of racing. Norway’s Einar Lurås Oftebro was his closest pursuer and rewarded himself with the silver medal (+2.3), USA’s Ben Loomis claimed the bronze medal. (+8.3).

Pazout and teammate Jan Vytrval rules the jumping hill with performances of 103 and 101 metres and went out on the track eleven seconds apart. Austrian youngster Johannes Lamparter showed a strong jumping side as well with 100 metres and a time behind of 27 seconds, as well as Japanese youngster Kodai Kimura (100 m; +00:29). Kimura shared the fourth position with Austrian Florian Dagn (both 132.2 points).

In the race, even though Pazout was very afraid that a fast-approaching group of pursuers would catch him in the end, the Czech saved himself with the seventh-fastest time on the track. Behind him, Einar Lurås Oftebro came flying from position ten at the start and also Ben Loomis had to make up some positions, coming from rank seven. The fastest man on the track was Austrian Mika Vermeulen, who needed 22:13.9 for the 10 km. He started his race from position 22 and finished sixth.

In the end, 16-year-old Lamparter had to be satisfied with the fourth position, Vytrval fell back to rank five, Florian Dagn and Dominik Terzer completed a good Austrian team result with positions seven and eight, Kodai Kimura ended up on position nine and France’s Edgar Vallet was tenth.