MOSCOW (AP) - Japan's Fumie Suguri took the women's lead Friday at the Cup of Russia with a short program that was confident and precise, if short on adventure.
Suguri, who took silver at Skate Canada, is in line for a slot in the Grand Prix final if she gains a gold or silver in Moscow, the fifth of six Grand Prix series competitions. With a score of 58.30 points, she edged Carolina Kostner of Italy, the world silver medalist, and American Rachael Flatt at Moscow's Megasport Arena.
In a disappointing performance, 2006 world champion Kimmie Meissner was eighth.
Suguri nailed all her jumps, with the only flaw a bit of apparent hesitation before her triple flip. She took fewer risks than Kostner or Flatt, essaying only a triple-double combination and front-loading all her jumps into the start of her program to "Fanfan" by Nicolas Jorelle.
Kostner tried a triple-triple, but put a hand down on the second jump, then fell on a triple lutz. But her drama and elegance won her the highest artistic marks of all the women.
Flatt stepped out of the first part of her triple-triple and only doubled the toe loop jump when she tried to add it on to her ensuing triple lutz.
But she held back a double axel until more than two minutes into the program, and got the second-highest technical marks.
Kostner and Flatt each have only a Grand Prix fourth place this year, making them outside possibilities for a final slot if one of them wins in Moscow.
Flatt, new to the international seniors circuit, said her third-place status "kind of surprised" her.
"I honestly didn't know where I was going to come out for the standings. But I'm very excited. I didn't skate my best, it could've been better, but I'm happy with where I am," she said.
Suguri, in turn, was ambivalent.
"Today it was a little bit difficult for me to be satisfied with my marks. But I'm really happy how I skated today, especially in front of a big audience," she said.
American Alissa Czisny was fifth, less than five points behind Suguri and not to be counted out.
Russians Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin led the ice dancing field after the compulsory dance, ahead of compatriots Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski.
Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States were in third with 35.77 points, exactly three points behind the leaders.
The Americans and Domnina and Shabalin each have won one gold medal in this year's Grand Prix series. A second gold, or even a silver, would put them in the Grand Prix final. Khokhlova and Novitski, who won bronze at Cup of China, could advance to the final with a gold in Moscow. |