JGP Austria Ladies Preview

Elena Radionova won the gold at her JGP debut in France and this 13 year old lived up to her hype chock full of triples and barely missing the 180 mark for her effort.  If she can replicate those programs she should have an easy time winning gold here and securing her spot in the JGP Final.

Samantha Cesario has struggled with injury the past few seasons but managed to win two bronze medals on the JGP last season.  This is her last year of junior eligibility and she's aiming for an injury free season.  She's kept her programs from last season and they won her rave reviews in her winning performances at the Liberty Summer Competition.

Hannah Miller won the bronze last season in Italy and will try to add to her medal haul here.  She won the 2011 U.S. Novice title but struggled a bit last season and almost missed qualifying for nationals at the junior level.  She ended up winning the bronze medal at nationals which earned her another shot at the JGP.  She has a nice performance quality on the ice but her jumps can sometimes get her in trouble as she doesn't get the height to fully rotate them confidently every time.  If she can land her jumps, she has a good shot at a medal.

Hae Jin Kim of Korea stormed on to the JGP last season with some impressive performances, including winning the short program in Australia but she struggled to put together two clean programs and really break out.  She won a bronze medal on the JGP last season and finished 8th at Junior Worlds but she'll need to skate cleanly here if she wants to improve on last season's performances.

Risa Shoji really struggled at the end of last season.  After her two silver medals earned her a trip to the JGP Final she dropped to 20th place at Junior Worlds, shocking after her 5th place finish the season before.  She'll be looking to redeem herself here and earn a 3rd consecutive trip to the Final.

Ziquan Zhao really struggled in France earlier this season but if she can skate like she did last season she'll be in the medal hunt as well.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Elena Radionova
Silver: Samantha Cesario
Bronze: Hannah Miller

Bios of the competitors:
Sophie Almassy, AUT: This is her international debut.

Nina Larissa Wolfslast, AUT: She placed 16th at JGP Austria last season.  Her personal best is 92.26.  She is 16 years old.

Kristina Isabel Yntema, AUT: She placed 17th at JGP France.  Her personal best is 93.03.  She is 13 years old.

Anais Claes, BEL: She placed 29th at JGP Latvia and 27th at JGP Italy last season.  Her personal best is 82.03.  She is 17 years old.

Gabrielle Daleman, CAN: This is her JGP debut.  She is 14 years old.

Ziquan Zhao, CHN: She placed 11th at Junior Worlds.  She finished 10th at JGP France.  Her personal best is 143.92.  She is 14 years old.

Levana Wu, TPE: This is her international debut.

Valentina Mikac, CRO: This is her JGP debut.  She is 15 years old.

Eliska Brezinova, CZE: She placed 23rd in the preliminary round at Worlds and 18th in the preliminary round at Europeans.  She finished 17th at JGP Austria last season.  Her personal best is 101.70.  She is 16 years old.

Jasmine Alexandra Costa, EST: She placed 19th at JGP Poland last season.  Her personal best is 120.56.  She is 18 years old.

Seidi Rantanen, FIN: This is her JGP debut.  She is 17 years old.

Nathalie Weinzierl, GER: She placed 22nd at Europeans.  Her personal best is 115.89.  She is 18 years old.

Vala Run Magnusdottir, ISL: This is her JGP debut.  She is 15 years old.

Agnese Garlisi, ITA: She placed 13th at JGP Austria last season.  Her personal best is 100.33.  She is 18 years old.

Yuka Nagai, JPN: This is her international debut.

Risa Shoji, JPN: She placed 20th at Junior Worlds.  She won silver at JGP Australia and JGP Estonia last season to qualify for the JGP Final where she finished 6th.  Her personal best is 157.83.  She is 16 years old.

Kristine Gaile, LAT: This is her international debut.  She is 15 years old.

Inga Januleviciute, LTU: She finished 16th in the preliminary round at Worlds and 13th in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds.  She placed 18th at JGP Estonia last season.  Her personal best is 94.29.  She is 17 years old.

Mila Morelissen, NED: This is her JGP debut.  She is 16 years old.

Camilla Gjersem, NOR: She finished 16th in the preliminary round at Europeans.  She placed 15th at JGP France.  Her personal best is 105.32.  She is 18 years old.

Hae Jin Kim, KOR: She placed 8th at Junior Worlds.  She finished 5th at JGP Australia and won bronze at JGP Romania last season.  Her personal best is 149.71.  She is 15 years old.

Elena Radionova, RUS: She won gold at JGP France.  Her personal best is 177.79.  She is 13 years old.

Maria Stavitskaia, RUS: She placed 6th at JGP Estonia last season.  Her personal best is 130.92.  She is 15 years old.

Monika Simancikova, SVK: She placed 14th at Europeans and 15th at Junior Worlds.  She finished 10th at JGP Poland and 9th at JGP Estonia last season.  Her personal best is 136.79.  She is 17 years old.

Patricia Glescic, SLO: She placed 15th in the preliminary round at Europeans and 17th at Junior Worlds.  Her personal best is 125.46.  She is 18 years old.

Simonn Erwee, RSA: This is her international debut.  She is 13 years old.

Gabriella Josefsson, SWE: This is her JGP debut.  She is 17 years old.

Laure Nicodet, SUI: This is her JGP debut.  She is 14 years old.

Promsan Rattanadilok Na Phuket, THA: This is her JGP debut.  She is 13 years old.

Natalia Popova, UKR: She placed 17th at Worlds and 12th at Europeans.  She placed 7th at JGP Romania and 11th at JGP Estonia.  Her persoanl best is 138.60.  She is 18 years old.

Samantha Cesario, USA: She won bronze at JGP Poland and JGP Estonia last season.  Her personal best is 153.84.  She is 19 years old.

Hannah Miller, USA: She won bronze at JGP Italy last season.  Her personal best is 146.74.  She is 15 years old.