The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating concluded Sunday in Fukuoka (JPN) with the Junior Free Dance and the Exhibition Gala. The events featured the top six skaters/couples in each category from the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series and the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The Marine Messe Fukuoka was sold out every day with 7,500 spectators.
Anna Yanovskaya/Sergey Mozgov (RUS) claim Junior Ice Dance gold
Anna Yanovskaya/Sergey Mozgov of Russia claimed the Junior Ice Dance gold medal. Kaitlyn Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker earned the silver medal and Lorraine McNamara/Quinn Carpenter (both USA) took the bronze in their debut in the Junior Grand Prix Final.
Yanovskaya/Mozgov delivered a strong dance to “La Mirta and la Rosa” by Alessandro Safina. They picked up a level four for thw twizzesl, two lifts and the spin while the step sequences were rated a level three. The Muscovites posted a new personal best score of 88.77 points and totaled 152.48 points to return on to the podium. „Everything was super, but our performance still wasn’t perfect, there were a few minor glitches. (on bouncing back after last season’s disappointing results) We have worked harder on the choreography, on the technique, we gave a 200, a 300 percent and so we were able to improve (compared to last year)”, Mozgov said.
Hawayek/Baker’s program to “Amelie” included a level four lift and spin, but the twizzles and step sequences garnered a level two only. The couple from Detroit scored 81.37 points and accumulated 139.42 points overall. “We’re very happy with not only the medal but the two performances we put out this week. We skated from the heart and gave every ounce of energy we had“, Hawayek commented.
Performing to “Sherlock Holmes”, McNamara/Carpenter produced five level-four elements and scored 80.75 points, just below their season’s best score. The Americans collected 135.89 points overall. “We felt great to have placed at this competition, especially since it’s our first Junior Grand Prix final and our second year on the circuit. Quinn and I were both able to watch both events for the senior dance. We definitely were able to learn from their confidence, the confidence they put out on the ice and how powerful they are”, McNamara told the press.
Betina Popova/Yuri Vlasenko (RUS) came fourth at 129.47 points followed by Alexandra Nazarova/Maxim Nikitin (UKR, 123.17 points) and Rachel Parsons/Michael Parsons (USA, 116.60 points).
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