CHANGCHUN, China (Dec. 20) - Olympian Jana Lindsey (Black Hawk, SD) took advantage of a strong qualifying effort by the U.S. women to finish a career best fourth Sunday in a World Cup freestyle aerials competition in Changchun. Mengtau Xu took the women's crown while Zongyang Jia won the men's title for a Chinese sweep. On their home turf, Chinese athletes took five of six podium spots.

Jia came from behind to win the men's with a score of 253.77, while Xu dominated with a 28-point victory margin tallying 207.68 points.

It had looked more promising for the U.S. women, with all three qualifying in the top seven - including Emily Cook (Belmont, MA) in second. But only Lindsey was able to move up in the second round as the Chinese came with twists and flips blazing.

Lindsey jumped to fourth after the qualifying round on a full full (two flips, two twists), holding her spot in the finals with a triple twisting double flip.

"Jana jumped really well," said Head Freestyle Coach Jeff Wintersteen. "She put two jumps together which we were really pleased with. She was fifth at Worlds so she can jump with these girls."

Cook saw her second place qualifying evaporate when she failed to fully execute one of the double twists on her second jump and missed the landing and dropped to 12th. "She just got caught up on the double in (two twists on first of two flips) and was late," said Wintersteen.

Lacy Schnoor (Draper, UT) also made finals, finishing ninth.

On the men's side, Jeret "Speedy" Peterson (Boise, ID) was again the lone U.S. qualifier for finals, also finishing ninth.

"We had some good opportunities as a whole but just didn't execute," said Wintersteen. "We're just not being aggressive enough and also need to work on landings."

The Team now heads back home for Wednesay's pivotal Olympic Trials at Steamboat Springs, CO where the winner gets an automatic berth on the Olympic Team.

"We're excited to be heading back to the states for the Olympia Trials," said Wintersteen. "Steamboat is a great venue which will give us confidence. It's one of the best jumping sites in America and we plan to take advantage of it."

The Team will arrive in Steamboat Monday with training Tuesday and Wednesday before the Olympic Trials competition Thursday morning.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Freestyle World Cup
Changchun, China - Dec. 20, 2009
Aerials

Men
1. Zongyang Jia, China, 253.77
2. Guangpu Qi, China, 250.28
3. Anton Kushnir, Belarus, 246.48
4. Steve Omischl, Canada, 238.42
5. Ziaopeng Han, China, 235.95
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9. Jeret Peterson, Boise, ID, 210.15
14. Dylan Ferguson, Amesbury, MA, 107.97
18. Ryan St. Onge, Lake Placid, NY, 101.99
26. Scotty Bahrke, Tahoe City, CA, 82.08

Women
1. Mengau Xu, China, 207.68
2. Xinxin Guo, China, 179.76
3. Xin Zhang, China, 177.55
4. Jana Lindsey, Black Hawk, SD, 171.93
5. Shuang Cheng, China, 167.07
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9. Lacy Schnoor, Draper, UT, 146.24
12. Emily Cook, Belmont, MA, 131.12