Yes, I know I promised previews of this event, but I have lost access to my computer. I am using a friend's, so I had to do an overall recap instead.
The ladies were to award medals first, with 14-year-old Polina Tsurkaya of Russia stunning her international debut. She dominated both segments of the competition, winning by ten points. Both of her programs contained triple-triples, with the only technical call against her being an unclear edge in her free skate. She had a total of 189.50 points. This puts her in an early favorite position to make the Junior Grand Prix Final. She only has to medal at her next event, the JGP event in Poland at the end of September, in order to so, where she will have to face reigning World Junior and Junior Grand Prix Final Silver Medalist, countrywoman Serafima Sakhanovich.
Rising from third after the short to second is Japan's Mai Mihara, looking very good in her second year on the JGP circuit. This marks the 17-year-old's first medal, as well, as she placed fourth and sixth in her events last year. She had two edge calls - one in her short and one in her free - but was otherwise clean. She received a total score of 179.36, and is also looking good for the JGP final right now - she will need to equal or better her placement in order to make it, though. Her next JGP is the JGP Austria in mid-September where she will face stiff competition from Russians Serafima Sakhanovich and Maria Sotskova, and countrywoman - and reigning Junior Grand Prix Final and World Junior Bronze medalist - Wakaba Higuchi.
Rounding out the podium was American Vivian Le, who did well in her JGP debut. The 14-year-old was second after the short, but fell to third. She had a couple of edge calls and fell on a jump in her free skate. She received a total score of 176.30. She will need to win her next competition to guarantee her a spot in the Junior Grand Prix Final, though a silver with a good score would put her in contention. Her next competition is the JGP in USA in two weeks, and the competition looks good for her to do very well in, as she has no real competition that I can see.
In fourth place was Rin Nataya of Japan in her second year on the JGP circuit. She made some mistakes in both segments of her competition, but rose from sixth after the short to place fourth overall with a score of 150.35. Rounding out the top five was Valeria Mikhailova from Russia with a score of 141.32 who made mistakes on her jumps in both segments. The other US entry - Emily Chan - was sixth.
The Ice Dancers are next!
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