OBERSTDORF, Germany -- Americans Keauna McLaughlin and
Rockne Brubaker won the short program Tuesday at the Junior World
Figure Skating Championships.
Skating to "Somewhere in Time," McLaughlin and Brubaker
completed an excellent double twist with great height, side-by-side
double axels, a one-armed lift with a change of holds, and strong
spins to earn 57.00 points. The U.S. junior champions only missed
on a throw triple salchow, with McLaughlin stepping out of the
maneuver.
"We had a little step out on the throw, but I thought
everything else that we did was probably the best we've done all
year. Everything felt really good and comfortable," Brubaker said.
"When you find the right partner, then everything comes
together a lot easier. We used to train very hard, spend a lot of
time working on little details. I think what helps is that we have
a really good relationship off the ice. We're really close and we
get along great."
In second place were Russia's Vera Bazarava and Yuri Larionov,
followed by countrymen and Ksenia Krasilnikova and Konstantin
Bezmaternykh. All three couples earned personal bests in the short
program.
The other U.S. couples followed. Bridget Namiotka and John
Coughlin came in fourth at 50.76 points, also a personal best. And
2006 world silver medalists Kendra Moyle and Andy Seitz were fifth
at 50.71 points.
The ice dance leaders after compulsories were Russias Ekaterina
Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev with 35.52 points, followed by
Estonia's Grethe Gruenberg and Kristian Rand, and Russians Kristina
Gorshkova and Vitali Butikov.
The top Americans were Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates with 31.18
points.
The event continues Wednesday with the men's short program and
the pairs free skate.