Freund wins large hill event to extend ski jump WCup lead

OSLO, Norway (AP) World champion Severin Freund earned his third straight ski jump World Cup victory Saturday, winning by just 0.3 points on Holmenkollen's large hill to extend his lead in the overall standings.

Freund led after the first round but was put under pressure by Peter Prevc of Slovenia, who jumped 138 meters in the second for the longest effort of the day. Freund's final jump of 135.5 meters proved just enough to give him the win with 275.7 points. Normal hill world champion Rune Velta of Norway was third, ahead of Japanese veteran Noriaki Kasai.

With three events remaining, Freund leads the overall standings with 1,543 points ahead of Prevc on 1,489. Another large hill competition is scheduled in Oslo on Sunday ahead of two ski flying events in Slovenia next week.