Anna Ovcharova of Russia is currently first after the Short Program, while Japan’s Kanako Murakami is close on her heels by less than a point. Russia’s Polina Agafonova sits in third.
Ovcharova skated a clean and upbeat routine to a Jazz medley which featured a triple flip, triple Lutz-double loop, and a double Axel. The 13-year-old earned positive Grades of Execution (GoE) on all of her elements as well as a level 4 for her three spins and a level 3 for good straight line footwork. She placed first with a new personal best of 59.80 (36.20/23.60) points.
“I felt very nervous today,” confessed the Russian junior silver medalist. “I didn’t believe my eyes, when my score was so high. I’m really glad about this. I wanted to do everything in this competition for my Short Program and I did.”
Murakami produced a triple toe-triple toe, a triple flip and a double Axel in her Flamenco routine, however the second jump of her combo was downgraded.The reigning Junior Grand Prix Final Champion also earned a level 4 on all of her spins as well as high GoEs, scoring 59.00 (34.60/24.40) points for second place.
Murakami had the highest Program Component score (24.40) of the 55 ladies.
“I am disappointed with my jump combination, because it was downgraded,” said the 15-year-old. “However, the other elements were better than in practice. This competition was my target for the season, and it’s still like a dream to be here.”
Agafonova had an edge call on a triple flip, but landed a triple Lutz-triple toeloop in her routine to otherwise showed good spins and footwork in her routine to a Basque-themed dance. The 13-year-old also displayed good level 4 spins, including a layback that garnered +1.30 GoEs. She currently sits in third with a new personal best of 56.28 (34.28/22.00) points.
“I didn’t expect at all such a high placement,” the Russian Junior Champion told the press. “Afterall, I’m for the first time at this competition. Basically I skated a good program and I did everything I can do. I changed my Short Program (after the Junior Grand Prix series), because both my programs turned out to be rather serious and I wanted to show a different style.”
Kate Charbonneau of Canada scored a new personal best of 53.80 (33.08/20.72) points for fourth place after her routine to Malaguena. The 16-year-old landed a triple toe-double toe, a triple flip, and a double Axel. She also earned a level 4 on all of her spins, as well a level 4 on a very good spiral sequence.
USA’s Kiri Baga stepped out of a triple flip and put her hand down on a double Axel in her skate to Danse Macabre. The 14-year-old otherwise landed a triple Salchow-double toeloop, and showed good footwork and level 4 spins. She is currently fifth with 52.28 points.
Joshi Helgesson of Sweden is currently sixth with 52.10 points. Her routine featured a triple Lutz-double toe, a triple flip, and a double Axel, however the flip received an edge call.
Russia’s Polina Shelepen is currently in seventh (51.42), followed by USA’s Agnes Zawadzki (50.98) points.
