By USSA

VALLNORD, Andorra -– Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, Vt.) closed out the Olympic selection period for snowboardcross with a third-place finish in the FIS Snowboard World Cup Sunday in Vallnord.

It was Jacobellis’s second podium of the debut World Cup weekend at the Andorran resort, where Czech rider Eva Samkova took the victory Sunday.

Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, Mich.) led the U.S. men in eighth, while Omar Visintin of Italy took the men’s victory.

Four U.S. women finished in the top 20, including Jackie Hernandez (Londonderry, Vt.) in 12th, Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Girdwood, Alaska) 15th and Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City) 16th.

Veteran rider Shaun Palmer (South Lake Tahoe), aiming for another shot at the Olympics after missing a spot on the 2010 team due to a late injury, finished 17th.

Alex Tuttle (Stratton, Maine) rode into 23rd while two-time Olympic champion Seth Wescott (Sugarloaf, Maine) finished 31st in a
 valiant comeback attempt after a March knee injury.

Trevor Jacob (Mammoth), Alex Deibold (Manchester Center, Vt.), Nate Holland (Squaw Valley) and Jacobellis have each scored a top-four finish, making them eligible for Olympic team nomination. Full team nominations will be announced later in January.