BEIJING, Feb. 12 -- World champion Kimmie Meissner
bounced back from one of her worst performances of the season to capture her
maiden Four Continents title with a dazzling free skate in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, on Saturday.
It was a gutsy performance by the 17-year-old, who
had placed a disappointing sixth in the short before claiming her second major
title in as many weeks. Meissner won her first US national title two weeks ago
in Spokane, Washington.
Skating to a spicy flamenco, a stern-faced Meissner
opened with a triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination before finishing with her
more familiar ear-to-ear grin, punching the air in delight and bringing the
crowd at the World Arena to its feet.
The judges awarded Meissner a top mark of 120.26,
catapulting her from sixth to first with a winning overall total of 172.75.
"I was very determined today to skate well," said
Meissner, the only one to land a triple-triple combination. "The other day I
don't know what happened. I was pretty disappointed after the short."
Emily Hughes, runner-up to Meissner at the US
nationals, had looked ready to take the title after posting a personal best
score for her free skate but once again had to settle for the silver with
166.60.
Canada's Joannie Rochette, the leader after the short
program, fell to third on 165.90.
Meissner used Evan Lysacek as motivation. He made up
more than 10 points in the free skate the night before to win the men's program.
Canada's Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon captured the ice dancing title
on Friday night. China's Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo went home with the pairs crown
on Thursday night.
(Source: Shanghai Daily)
