Karen Chen won the bronze medal at her JGP debut in Latvia. After a stellar short program, she admitted that the nerves got to her and she struggled a bit in her free skate. She has the triple + triple combinations that are needed to succeed at the junior level and a grace and execution on the ice that exceed her years. She can likely guarantee herself a spot in the Final with a gold or a silver medal while a bronze would keep her in contention.
Barbie Long finished just ahead of Chen at US Nationals last season and won a silver medal in her JGP debut last season. She has an elegant style on the ice but hasn't always been able to put together two clean programs and live up to her full potential.
Riona Kato has not competed on the JGP since 2011, but has done well in her B assignments and could be a real contender here and should be able to significantly increase her personal best.
Hae Jin Kim has been very inconsistent over the past season, but has the potential for great things. She took home a gold medal from JGP Slovenia last season. However, she scored 30 points lower at Junior Worlds and placed 19th.
Serafima Sakhanovich is making her JGP debut at this event. She nearly made the podium as a senior at Russian nationals last year and gained acclaim for her triple + triples. After the other Russian ladies have impressed at the first two events, she'll need to do the same here to maintain her momentum.
My podium predictions:
Gold: Serafima Sakhanovich
Silver: Karen Chen
Bronze: Barbie Long
Bios of the competitors:
Anastasia Galustyan, ARM: This is her international debut. She is 13 years old.
Kailani Craine, AUS: This is her JGP debut. She is 15 years old.
Sophie Almassy, AUT: She placed 31st at JGP Austria last season. Her personal best is 66.60. She is 16 years old.
Arijana Tirak, BIH: She placed 33rd at JGP Slovenia and 32nd at JGP Croatia last season. Her personal best is 56.48. She is 17 years old.
Roxanne Cournoyer, CAN: This is her international debut. She is 16 years old.
Marianne Rioux Ouellet, CAN: This is her international debut. She is 18 years old.
Ziquan Zhao, CHN: She placed 15th at Junior Worlds. She finished 10th at JGP France and 4th at JGP Austria last season. Her personal best is 146.22. She is 15 years old.
Tena Copor, CRO: This is her international debut. She is 14 years old.
Kristina Dubrovskaya, CYP: She placed 31st at JGP Croatia last season. Her personal best is 69.15. She is 16 years old.
Elizaveta Ukolova, CZE: She placed 33rd at Junior Worlds. She finished 8th at JGP Turkey and 11th at JGP Germany last season. Her personal best is 118.47. She is 15 years old.
Kristinna Vagtborg, DEN: This is her JGP debut. She is 15 years old.
Lea Serna, FRA: This is her international debut. She is 13 years old.
Lutricia Bock, GER: She finished 7th at JGP Latvia. Her personal best is 134.04. She is 14 years old.
Lana Bagen, GBR: Her personal best is 85.65. She is 17 years old.
Eszter Kosa, HUN: This is her international debut. She is 15 years old.
Micol Cristini, ITA: She finished 14th at JGP France last season. Her personal best is 105.71. She is 16 years old.
Riona Kato, JPN: Her personal best is 115.97. She is 15 years old.
Angelina Kuchvalska, LAT: She placed 20th at Junior Worlds. She finished 16th at JGP France last season. Her personal best is 114.11. She is 14 years old.
Agata Kryger, POL: She finished 36th at Junior Worlds. Her personal best is 91.76. She is 15 years old.
Hae Jin Kim, KOR: She placed 19th at Junior Worlds. She finished 5th at JGP Austria and won gold at JGP Slovenia last season. Her personal best is 149.71. She is 16 years old.
Alexandra Proklova, RUS: This is her international debut. She is 13 years old.
Serafima Sakhanovich, RUS: This is her international debut. She is 13 years old.
Sandra Ristivojevic, SRB: She placed 27th at JGP Slovenia last season. Her personal best is 85.48. She is 17 years old.
Bronislava Dobiasova, SVK: This is her JGP debut. She is 15 years old.
Miroslava Hrinakova, SVK: This is her JGP debut. She is 17 years old.
Nicole Rajicova, SVK: She finished 30th at Junior Worlds. She placed 13th at JGP USA and 15th at JGP Slovenia last season. Her personal best is 109.56. She is 18 years old.
Rebecka Emanuelsson, SWE: She placed 25th at Junior Worlds. She finished 21st at JGP France and 16th at JGP Turkey last season. Her personal best is 119.89. She is 18 years old.
Yasmine Kimiko Yamada, SUI: She placed 15th at JGP Turkey last season. Her personal best is 102.70. She is 16 years old.
Anna Khnychenkova, UKR: She placed 17th at Junior Worlds. Her personal best is 121.62. She is 18 years old.
Karen Chen, USA: She won bronze at JGP Latvia. Her personal best is 154.26. She is 14 years old.
Barbie Long, USA: She won silver at JGP Slovenia last season. Her personal best is 147.19. She is 17 years old.
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