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Krueger wins men’s jumping title for third consecutive year

POLK CITY, Fla. – U.S. athletes Freddy Krueger (Winter Garden, Fla.) and Raimi Merritt (Orlando, Fla.) won titles in respective events Sunday at the opening event of the 2014 IWWF Water Ski & Wakeboard World Cup in Mandurah, Australia.

Krueger won the men’s jumping title for the third consecutive year, soaring 216 feet/65.9 meters on his third and final attempt in the finals. Germany’s Bojan Schipner placed second with a distance of 214 feet/65.3 meters, and Russia’s Igor Morozov was third with a distance of 213 feet/65.0 meters. U.S. athletes Zack Worden (Deltona, Fla.) and Jimmy Siemers (Round Rock, Texas) placed fourth and sixth, respectively, with distances of 201 feet/61.3 meters and 191 feet/58.2 meters.

Merritt won the women’s wakeboarding title with a score of 62.33 points. U.S. athlete Nicola Butler (Maitland, Fla.) placed second with a score of 60.11 points and Sweden’s Caroline Djupsjo was third with a score of 55.33 points. In men’s wakeboarding, Australia’s Harley Clifford won the title, scoring 90.00 points. Australia’s Cory Teunissen placed second with a score of 86.33 points and Australia’s Tony Iacconi was third with a score of 81.00 points. Wakeboarding scoring is based on combined points earned for Composition, Intensity and Execution.

Australia’s Jacinta Carroll won the women’s jumping title with a distance of 168 feet/51.1 meters.Belarus’ Natallia Berdnikava placed second with a distance of 165 feet/50.2 meters, and Finland’s Jutta Lammi was third with a distance of 156 feet/47.5 meters. U.S. athlete Lauren Morgan (Odessa, Fla.) placed fourth with a distance of 153 feet/46.5 meters.

USA Water Ski was formed in 1939 as a non-profit organization promoting water skiing in the United States. USA Water Ski is affiliated with the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (world governing body) and is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and Pan-American Sports Organization as the national governing body of organized water skiing in the United States.