JGP Latvia Ladies Preview

A third of these skaters (fourteen) are making their JGP debuts.  There are a few veterans who will be eyeing the top of the podium, however.  Zijun Li of China won a medal last season to earn a berth in the JGPF where she won bronze.  Polina Shelepen of Russia won two medals to join Li in the Final as did Yasmin Siraj of the United States.  Other contenders include Polina Agafonova of Russia who won the bronze medal at Junior Worlds back in 2010 and Miyabi Oba of Japan who impressed with an 8th place finish at Worlds in her international debut and will make her JGP debut here.  This is one of the most competitive ladies fields so far on the JGP and for many of these skaters, how they perform here will determine if they will qualify for a second competition.  With this tough of a field, it will be hard for a newcomer to sneak in and snag a medal.  

Podium predictions:

Gold: Polina Shelepen, RUS

Silver: Miyabi Oba, JPN

Bronze: Yasmin Siraj, USA


Bios of the competitors:

Taylor Dean, AUS: This is her international debut.  She is 15 years old.

Natascha Zangl, AUT: This is her JGP debut.  She is 16 years old.

Kristina Zakharanka, BLR: This is her JGP debut.  She is 14 years old.

Anais Claes, BEL: This is her JGP debut.  She is 16 years old.

Arijana Tirak, BIH: She placed 32^nd at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Her personal best is 45.49.  She is 15 years old.

Zijun Li, CHN: She placed 9^th at the World Junior Championships.  She won the bronze medal at JGP Austria and finished 4^th at JGP Czech Republic to earn a berth to the JGPF where she won the bronze medal.  Her personal best is 149.82.  She is 14 years old.  

Corinna Lijun Lin, TPE: This is her JGP debut.  She is 16 years old.

Gerli Liinamae, EST: She placed 13^th at Europeans and 15^th at Junior Worlds.  She finished 10^th at JGP France and 9^th at JGP Germany last season.  Her personal best is 133.73.  She is 16 years old.

Nea Viiri, FIN: This is her JGP debut.  She is 15 years old.

Lenaelle Gilleron-Gorry, FRA: She finished 7th at JGP France and 14th at JGP Austria.  Her personal best is 120.78.  She is 16 years old.

Christina Erdel, GER: This is her JGP debut.  She is 16 years old.

Heidbjort Arney Hoskuldsdottir, ISL: This is her JGP debut.  She is 15 years old. 

Margot Krisberg, ISR: She finished 26^th in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds.  She placed 26^th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Her personal best is 88.00.  She is 16 years old.

Riona Kato, JPN: This is her international debut.  She is 13 years old.

Miyabi Oba, JPN: She finished 8^th at Junior Worlds.  This is her JGP debut.  Her personal best is 148.62.  She is 16 years old.

Regina Glazman, KAZ: This is her JGP debut.  She is 14 years old.

Alina Fjodorova, LAT: She placed 28^th at Junior Worlds.  She finished 15^th at JGP France and 12^th at JGP Germany last season.  Her personal best is 113.95.  She is 16 years old.

Ieva Gaile, LAT: This is her international debut.  She is 14 years old.

Karina Rutlauka, LAT: This is her JGP debut.  She is 15 years old.

Rimgaile Meskaite, LTU: She finished 14^th in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds.  She placed 27^th at JGP Great Britain and 19^th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Her personal best is 97.27.  She is 15 years old. 

Anine Rabe, NOR: She finished 15^th at JGP Great Britain last season.  Her personal best is 99.60.  She is 18 years old. 

Alexandra Kamieniecki, POL: She finished 27^th at Junior Worlds.  She placed 26^th at JGP Austria and 16^th at JGP Czech Republic.  Her personal best is 100.87.  She is 14 years old.

Ho Jung Lee, KOR: She placed 23^rd at Junior Worlds.  She finished 9^th at JGP Romania and 6^th at JGP Japan last season.  Her personal best is 122.86.  She is 14 years old.

Polina Agafonova, RUS: She is the 2010 World Junior bronze medalist.  She placed 7^th at JGP Austria and 4^th at JGP Germany last season.  Her personal best is 154.27.  She is 15 years old.

Polina Shelepen, RUS: She placed 7^th at Junior Worlds.  She won gold at JGP France and bronze at JGP Czech Republic to qualify for the JGPF last season where she placed 5^th.  Her personal best is 159.29.  She is 16 years old.

Sandra Ristivojevic, SRB: She finished 33^rd in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds.  This is her JGP debut.  She is 15 years old.

Dominika Murckova, SVK: She finished 25^th at JGP Germany last season.  Her personal best is 82.77.  She is 15 years old.

Patricia Glescic, SLO: She finished 20^th at Junior Worlds.  She placed 6^th at JGP Austria and 17^th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Her personal best is 125.46.  She is 17 years old.

Josefine Taljegard, SWE: She placed 20^th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Her personal best is 104.63.  She is 16 years old.

Tina Sturzinger, SUI: She finished 22^nd at JGP France and 9^th at JGP Great Britain last season.  Her personal best is 110.23.  She is 15 years old.

Sila Saygi, TUR: She finished 26^th at Junior Worlds.  She placed 13^th at JGP France and 12^th at JGP Romania last season.  Her personal best is 118.94.  She is 15 years old.

Ashley Cain, USA: This is her JGP debut.  She also competes in pairs and finished 4th at Junior Worlds.  She is 16 years old.

Yasmin Siraj, USA: She won silver medals at JGP France and Great Britain last season to qualify for the JGPF where she finished 7^th.  Her personal best is 161.75.  She is 15 years old.