The ladies and men opened up the intermediate competition at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan on Friday, Jan. 18, to close out the first day of the
2019 GEICO U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Intermediate Ladies Short Program
The top two ladies following the intermediate short program both landed a triple-triple combination, a first for the ladies intermediate event at U.S. Championships.
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Current intermediate ladies leader Lindsay Thorngren
The current leader, Lindsay Thorngren from the Ice House of New Jersey Figure Skating Club, scored a season's best of 54.74. Though she's landed the triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination at regionals and sectionals, Thorngren feels it's definitely improved from the past.
"I feel more confident with it and can go into it with more speed," Thorngren said.
In her program set to "Fly" by Celine Dion, Thorngren also completed a triple flip, double Axel, two Level 4 spins and a Level 2 step sequence.
Isabeau Levito from the Skating Club of Southern New Jersey sits in second after the short program with a score of 51.85. She landed a clean triple Salchow-triple toe loop, her first time trying it in competition.
"I tried something new, and it worked out, I landed it clean," Levito said. "I really hope to skate clean in the free skate and score in the 90s."
Levito also executed a double Axel, triple loop and two Level 4 spins.
Hazel Collier from the Skating Club of Boston placed third with a score of 50.85 points. Her
Pirates of the Caribbean program featured two Level 4 spins, and all of her elements received positive Grades of Execution.
Collier attacked each element in her program while also committing to her performance, earning a components score of 20.06, the highest in the entire event.
In fourth with a score of 44.07 is individual member Hannah Herrera, whose program included a triple Lutz-double toe loop combination and a Level 4 combination spin.
Intermediate Men Short Program
Robert Yampolsky from North Jersey Figure Skating Club sits in first place following the intermediate men's short program. Scoring a season's best 52.08 points, the 14-year-old opened with a strong triple-Lutz-double-toe loop combination. All of his elements, including a Level 4 and a Level 3 spin, received positive Grades of Execution.
"I landed my triple flip pretty well, and my program was better all around," the Eastern Sectional champion said.
Representing Northern Ice Skating Club, Daniel Martynov landed in second with 48.64 points. Beginning with a Level 2 step sequence, the Midwestern Sectional champion performed to the music, executing a triple Lutz-double toe loop combination, triple toe loop, double Axel and Level 3 and Level 4 spins.
Jacob Sanchez of the Hudson Valley Figure Skating Club finished third with 47.04 points. Skating to "Puttin' On The Ritz," Sanchez landed a triple Salchow-double toe loop combination and achieved Level 3 and Level 4 spins.
"I skated the cleanest I have all season," he said. "I really showed the judges what I can do."
Rounding out the top four of the intermediate men's short program event is Andriy Kratyuk, who scored 42.27 points, more than six points above his score at Pacific Coast Sectional Championships.
