Bill Demong’s Nordic combined team positioned for medal in Vancouver

Pictured: Bill Demong with his mom Helen (Photo provided)

The first round of team 4-by-5km Nordic combined racing is done for the day and the United States — led by Vermontville’s Bill Demong — is in second place.

That’s remarkable because the first portion was the jumping competition, and the US’s big strength is in skiing.

Now the US will start just two seconds behind Finland, in a competition that combines ski jumping and cross-country racing. Here’s the latest from the Seattle Times.

The U.S. men’s nordic combined team is poised to make history at Whistler Olympic Park, after finishing a close second behind Finland in the jumping portion of the team nordic combined.

The U.S. team of Bill Demong, Johnny Spillane, Todd Lodwick and Brett Camerota will have only a 2-second deficit behind leader Finland in the staggered start for the 5K cross country relay, which begins at 2 p.m.

The Americans are strong skiers. Their jump performance this morning puts them in strong medal position.

A medal in the team event would be the first in history for America, which signaled its ascension in the sport by winning four medals at last year’s world championships in the Czech Republic.

The contest resumes this afternoon (2pm Vancouver time; 5pm Eastern) and we’ll have final results for you later on the In Box.

Tags: olympics