So glad Ashley medaled there. She could've won without the errors but whatever, still a good day for her. This should put both her and Leonova in the final, right?
Let me caculate this; note I will be figuring this out as I type:
Miki Ando is currently the first lock for the Finale. Leonova and Ashley are 2-3; Leonova squeaks past Ashley on the score tiebreaker. Leonova would need less than five skaters to pass her, Ashley less than four. I am leaving out two skaters who haven't competed yet due to their low ranking, and saying there are six skaters who can pass them both:
Yu-Na Kim: Probably will at Skate America next week.
Rachael Flatt: Would need to win Skate America, so would need to beat Yu-Na, so probably won't.
Akiko Suzuki: Would only need top four at Skate Canada, which I think she's got a very good shot at.
Joannie Rochette: Would need at least silver at Skate Canada(at which point I think she would probably pass them), more likely than not I think she'll get that.
Alissa Czisney and Caroline Zhang: Would both need to win Skate Canada. And when only one of them can, reduce number of skaters who can pass Ashley and Alena to five.
So neither are yet locked, but for Alena to be passed, Rachael would have to win Skate America, Yu-Na would have to make the top four there, Czisney or Zhang would have to win Skate Canada, Rochette would have to win silver, and Suzuki would have to either win bronze or come in fourth. I think Alena will be locked next week, and Ashley's got a good chance.
Whatever happens, there will now be an American lady in the Grand Prix Finale!
Seriously though I have a lot of built-in resentment toward the whole entire Russian establishment through the years.
