Junior Worlds: Pairs Preview

Sui and Han are the two-time reigning Champions of this event and the only medalist returning from last season.  They also just won the Four Continents title at the senior level.  They won two gold medals on the JGP and the JGP Final this season as well as a silver medal on the Senior Grand Prix.  They have a quad twist and a throw quad in their free skate which gives them a technical content unmatched in the world.  Their size difference also allows from some interesting and difficult lift entrances and exits.  This is their title to lose, but they've shown that big elements can be costly as a mistake on the throw quad at Cup of China cost them a medal and a trip to the Grand Prix Final.  They have the best short program, free skate and total score of the season.  They have the 4th best short program, 3rd best free skate and 3rd best total senior scores of the season.


Bobak/Beharry won a gold and silver medal on the JGP to qualify for the JGP Final where they won silver.  Their silver medal came in their first competition together and they improved by 15 points to take the gold in Estonia.  They have been known to come from behind after a poor short program, but have really cleaned this segment up to keep them in contention the whole competition.  They have the 2nd best short program, 3rd best free skate and 3rd best total score of the season.


Yu/Jin won two silver medals on the JGP to qualify for the Final and took home gold from the Youth Olympic Games.  They increased their score by 15 points from Latvia to Austria.  However, they dropped to a disappointing 5th place at the Final, even though they were only 2 points from the podium.  They have the 3rd best short program, 2nd best free skate and 2nd best total score of the season.


Simpson/Blackmer won a gold and silver medal on the JGP and qualified for the Final where they won bronze.  Their gold medal came in their first event together as a team and they were the first U.S. team to win JGP gold since 2007.  Their free skate is especially breathtaking set to the music from Titanic and is wonderfully emoted.  They have the 4th best short program, 5th best free skate and 4th best total score of the season.


Petaikina/Kurdyukov won bronze at JGP Austria and qualified for the JGP Final.  They showed significant improvement between Latvia and Austria with a 17 point improvement in their score.  They just missed the podium at the JGP Final, finishing .18 behind Simpson and Blackmer.  They have the 7th best short program, 4th best free skate and 5th best total score of the season.  


Li/Jiang: While they didn't win a medal on the JGP, their scores are some of the best in this field and they showed significant improvement during the season with a 38 point bump in their scores between Latvia and Austria.  They have the 8th best short program, 6th best free skate and 7th best total score of the season.  


Purdy/Marinaro won bronze at JGP Latvia showing a big improvement over their previous placements but dropped to 10th place with a score 17 points lower in Austria. They have the 7th best free skate and 9th best total score of the season.


Other teams in the mix include Davankova/Deputat who won the Russian Junior National title and Denney/Frazier who won the US Junior National title.


Teams who won a medal on the JGP but are not at this event include Russians Tudvaseva/Lisiev (alternates) and Americans Calalang/Sidhu (alternates).


My podium predictions:
Gold: Sui/Han
Silver: Yu/Jin
Bronze: Bobak/Beharry


Bios of the competitors:
Kestila/Bullard, AUS: They finished 20^th at their international debut in Austria and 14^th at JGP Estonia.  Their personal best is 75.84.  She is 13 and he is 18.

Martini/Kiefer, AUT: They finished 16th at Junior Worlds last season.  They placed 21^st at Worlds.  They finished 15^th at Europeans.  They finished 16^th at JGP Austria.  Their personal best is 112.10.  She is 19 and he is 21.

Paliakova/Fomichev, BLR: They finished 18th at Junior Worlds last season.  They placed 18th at Europeans.  They placed 8^th at their JGP debut in Poland and 9^th at JGP Estonia.  Their personal best is 109.01.  She is 19 and he is 21.

Ilieva/Savinov, BUL: She is 15 and he is 20.

Bell/Sylvester, CAN: She is 15 and he is 17.

Bobak/Beharry, CAN (D): They won silver at their JGP debut in Poland and gold at JGP Estonia to qualify for the JGP Final where they won silver.  Their personal best is 152.65.  She is 17 and he is 20.

Purdy/Marinaro, CAN (D): They won bronze at JGP Latvia and finished 10^th at JGP Austria.  Their personal best is 134.46.  She is 17 and he is 20.

Li/Jiang, CHN: They finished 10^th at their JGP debut in Latvia and 4^th at JGP Austria.  Their personal best is 138.92.  She is 14 and he is 19.

Sui/Han, CHN (D): They are the reigning Junior World Champions.  They are the reigning Four Continents Champions.  They won silver at Skate Canada and finished 5th at Cup of China.  They won gold at JGP Latvia and Austria to qualify for the JGP Final and won gold.  They are the 2010 World Junior Champions.  Their personal best is 201.83.  She is 16 and he is 19.

Yu/Jin, CHN: They won gold at the Youth Olympic Games.  They finished 7^th in their Grand Prix debut, Skate Canada and 6th at Cup of China.  They took home the silver from JGP Latvia and Austria to qualify for the JGP Final where they finished 5th.  Their personal best is 162.96.  She is 16 and he is 17.

Mendozza/Boyadji, FRA: They finished 10^th at their international debut in Estonia.  Their personal best is 103.36.  She is 17 and he is 21.

Wenzig/Landgraf, GER: She is 14 and he is 19.

Cernuschi/Ambrosini, ITA (D): She is 15 and he is 18.

Manacorda/Macii, ITA: She is 14 and he is 16.

Epstein/Epstein, NED: They finished 17th at Junior Worlds last season.  They finished 18^th at their JGP debut in Austria and 12^th at JGP Estonia.  Their personal best is 86.33.  She is 18 and he is 18 (they are twins).  

Klatka/Chruscinski, POL: They finished 14th at Junior Worlds last season.  They placed 7^th at JGP Poland and 7^th at JGP Estonia.  Their personal best is 115.07.  She is 14 and he is 20.

Davankova/Deputat, RUS (D): She is 13 and he is 19.

Gainetdinova/Bich, RUS (D): She is 14 and he is 19.

Petaikina/Kurduykov, RUS: They finished 4^th at JGP Latvia and won bronze at JGP Austria to qualify for the JGP Final where they finished 4th.  Their personal best is 146.17.  She is 17 and he is 21. 

Rodriguez/Maestu, ESP: They finished 17^th at their international debut in Austria and 11^th at JGP Estonia.  Their personal best is 91.30.  She is 15 and he is 21.

Lavrentieva/Rudik, UKR: They finished 15th at Junior Worlds last season.  They placed 9th at JGP Poland and 12^th at JGP Austria.  Their personal best is 107.77.  She is 14 and he is 20.

Denney/Frazier, USA: They placed 8^th at their JGP debut in Latvia and 7^th at JGP Austria.  Their personal best is 125.50.  She is 16 and he is 19.

Duarte/Grafton, USA (D): They placed 9^th at JGP Latvia and 6^th at JGP Austria.  Their personal best is 127.54.  She is 18 and he is 20.

Simpson/Blackmer, USA (D): They won gold at their international debut at JGP Poland and silver at JGP Estonia to qualify for the JGP Final where they won bronze.  Their personal best is 146.35.  She is 15 and he is 20. 

Junior Grand Prix Final Pairs Free Skate Results

Pl.   Name Nation TSS = TES + PCS + SS TR PE CH IN Ded. - StN. 1 Wenjing SUI / Cong HAN CHN 103.00 48.44 54.56 6.75 6.71 6.79 6.89 6.96 0.00 #6 2 Katherine BOBAK / Ian BEHARRY CAN 99.88 48.98 50.90 6.46 5.96 6.46 6.46 6.46 0.00 #5 3 Xiaoyu YU / Yang JIN CHN 97.88 53.90 44.98 5.79 5.61 5.64 5.71 5.36 1.00 #2 4 Ekaterina PETAIKINA / Maxim KURDYUKOV RUS 97.42 50.63 46.79 5.96 5.57 5.96 5.82 5.93 0.00 #3 5 Britney SIMPSON / Matthew BLACKMER USA 95.44 45.72 49.72 6.25 5.61 6.43 6.21 6.57 0.00 #4 6 Tatiana TUDVASEVA / Sergei LISIEV RUS 88.32 46.10 42.22 5.46 5.04 5.36 5.39 5.14 0.00 #1
FPl. Name Nation Points SP FS 1 Wenjing SUI / Cong HAN CHN 160.43 1 1 2 Katherine BOBAK / Ian BEHARRY CAN 152.65 2 2 3 Britney SIMPSON / Matthew BLACKMER USA 146.35 3 5 4 Ekaterina PETAIKINA / Maxim KURDYUKOV RUS 146.17 4 4 5 Xiaoyu YU / Yang JIN CHN 144.71 5 3 6 Tatiana TUDVASEVA / Sergei LISIEV RUS 133.79 6 6

Junior Grand Prix Final Pairs Short Program Results

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Wenjing SUI / Cong HAN	CHN	57.43	30.06		27.37	6.79	6.68	7.04	6.79	6.93	0.00	#6
2	Katherine BOBAK / Ian BEHARRY	CAN	52.77	28.06		24.71	6.25	5.93	6.29	6.18	6.25	0.00	#4
3	Britney SIMPSON / Matthew BLACKMER	USA	50.91	26.54		24.37	6.18	5.71	6.21	6.07	6.29	0.00	#5
4	Ekaterina PETAIKINA / Maxim KURDYUKOV	RUS	48.75	26.12		22.63	5.79	5.50	5.75	5.68	5.57	0.00	#2
5	Xiaoyu YU / Yang JIN	CHN	46.83	24.61		22.22	5.71	5.39	5.64	5.61	5.43	0.00	#3
6	Tatiana TUDVASEVA / Sergei LISIEV	RUS	45.47	23.61		21.86	5.43	5.18	5.50	5.61	5.61	0.00	#1

Junior Grand Prix Final Pairs Preview

These teams range in age from 14 to 21.  One has a Grand Prix Final medal and one has a Junior Grand Prix Final medal from last season.  They won 4 gold medals, 4 silvers and 2 bronzes on the circuit this season.

Sui and Han kicked off their season with a win in Latvia and again in Austria with a 15 point increase in their score.  They are capable of quad throws and twists, but a mistake on their quad throw on the Grand Prix cost them a medal and a spot in the Grand Prix Final.  They have the best short program, free skate and total score of the season.

Yu and Jin won silver behind Sui and Han at both Latvia and Austria and also increased their score by 15 points between events.  They have the 2nd best short program, free skate and total score of the season.

Petaikina and Kurduykov finished 4th in Latvia but improved to the bronze medal after increasing their score by 17 points in Austria.  While their places don't seem to be impressive, they were in tough fields and their scores put them among the best.  They have the 6th best short program, 4th best free skate and total score of the season.

Tudvaseva and Lisiev are replacing Calalang and Sidhu who withdrew due to injury.  They started their season with a 5th place finish in Latvia, but quickly rebounded to the bronze medal in Poland.  They have the 10th best short program of the season.

Simpson and Blackmer won the gold medal in their debut in Poland and were the first USA team to win JGP gold since 2007.  They followed it up with a silver medal in Estonia.  They have the 5th best short program, free skate and total score of the season.  

Bobak and Beharry made their debut in Poland and took home the silver medal.  They improved by 17 points in Estonia to take home the gold medal.  They have come from behind with their free skates several times, so it is often their short program which will determine how high they can climb in the free skate and what medal they can grab.  They have the 4th best short program, 3rd best free skate and total score of the season.

My podium predictions:

Gold: Sui/Han

Silver: Yu/Jin

Bronze: Simpson/Blackmer

Bios of the competitors in qualification order:

Sui/Han, CHN: They are the 2010 and 2011 World Junior Champions.  They won silver at Skate Canada and placed 5th at Cup of China.  They won gold at JGP Latvia and Austria.  They qualified for the GPF last season and won bronze.  They qualified for the JGPF last season, but withdrew to focus on the senior competition.  Their personal best is 180.82.  She is 16 and he is 19.

Simpson/Blackmer, USA: They won gold at their international debut at JGP Poland and silver at JGP Estonia.  Their personal best is 141.42.  She is 15 and he is 19.

Bobak/Beharry, CAN: They won silver at their JGP debut in Poland and gold at JGP Estonia.  Their personal best is 147.72.  She is 17 and he is 20.

Yu/Jin, CHN: They finished 7^th in their Grand Prix debut, Skate Canada.  They took home the silver from JGP Latvia and Austria.  They qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final last season and won bronze.  Their personal best is 158.36.  She is 15 and he is 17.

Petaikina/Kurduykov, RUS: They finished 4^th at JGP Latvia and won bronze at JGP Austria.  Their personal best is 144.47.  She is 16 and he is 21. 

Tudvaseva/Lisiev, RUS: They finished 5^th at their JGP debut in Latvia and won bronze at JGP Poland.  Their personal best is 129.35.  She is 14 and he is 18. 

JGP Estonia Recap

Men

Joshua Farris won his second gold medal of the year and qualified for his 2nd Junior Grand Prix Final.  Maxim Kovtun also won his second medal of the season and qualified for the Final.  Shoma Uno increased his score by 12 points since Poland to take the bronze medal.

Viktor Romanenkiv and Julian Zhi-Hie Yee both had a 10 point increase in their scores since their first event.  Pavel Ignatenko saw his score plummet 29 points from the mark he set in Latvia.

Ladies

Gracie Gold took home the gold medal from her international debut with the 2nd highest score of the season.  Risa Shoji increased her score by 10 points since Australia to take the silver medal and secure a spot in the Final.  Samantha Cesario won the bronze.

Monika Simancikova increased her score by 11 points since Poland and Isabelle Olsson increased her score by 15 points since Italy.

Chantelle Kerry scored 17 points lower than in Australia.  A week after winning the silver medal in her international debut, Anna Shershak's score fell 21 points and she finished well off the podium.

Pairs

Bobak and Beharry improved by 15 points since Poland to take their first gold medal and qualify for the Final.  Simpson and Blackmer won the silver and also qualified for the Final.  Calalang and Sidhu continued their impressive improvements this season and increased their score by 17 points since Poland to take the bronze medal and secure their first trip to the Final.

Klatka and Chruscinski finished 11 points higher than in Poland and Grechukhina and Gilonov finished 17 points higher than in Poland.

Krutsikh and Morozov were down 19 points since Latvia.

Dance

Yankovskaia and Mozgov improved their score my an impressive 21 points since Poland to take their first gold medal and qualify for the Final.  Shtork and Rand improved by 19 points since Romania to take the silver medal.  Kosigina and Moroshkin won the bronze but fell just short of making a return trip to the Final.

Nagornyuk and Kovalenko improved by 11 points since Romania but Hawayek and Bramante finished 13 points down from their score in Romania. 

JGP Estonia Pairs Free Skate Results

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Katherine BOBAK / Ian BEHARRY	CAN	97.99	49.42		48.57	6.11	5.79	6.07	6.25	6.14	0.00	#14
2	Britney SIMPSON / Matthew BLACKMER	USA	91.71	43.09		48.62	6.00	5.71	6.25	6.14	6.29	0.00	#11
3	Jessica CALALANG / Zack SIDHU	USA	89.33	42.57		46.76	6.04	5.61	5.86	5.96	5.75	0.00	#12
4	Natalja ZABIJAKO / Sergei KULBACH	EST	88.95	45.75		44.20	5.50	5.36	5.61	5.61	5.54	1.00	#9
5	Klara KADLECOVA / Petr BIDAR	CZE	84.26	43.13		42.13	5.32	5.25	5.29	5.36	5.11	1.00	#7
6	Valeria GRECHUKHINA / Andrei FILONOV	RUS	81.45	39.25		44.20	5.68	5.61	5.36	5.54	5.43	2.00	#13
7	Magdalena KLATKA / Radoslaw CHRUSCINSKI	POL	76.37	39.52		36.85	4.96	4.36	4.68	4.64	4.39	0.00	#10
8	Maria PALIAKOVA / Mikhail FOMICHEV	BLR	72.71	38.19		34.52	4.50	4.11	4.29	4.29	4.39	0.00	#5
9	Camille MENDOZA / Christopher BOYADJI	FRA	68.15	35.00		35.15	4.68	4.11	4.29	4.50	4.39	2.00	#6
10	Ekaterina KRUTSKIKH / Vladimir MOROZOV	RUS	67.81	31.58		38.23	5.25	4.68	4.46	4.82	4.68	2.00	#8
11	Alexandra RODRIGUEZ / Aritz MAESTU	ESP	61.17	31.49		29.68	3.86	3.61	3.75	3.71	3.61	0.00	#3
12	Rachel EPSTEIN / Dmitry EPSTEIN	NED	52.54	24.06		29.48	3.89	3.57	3.54	3.75	3.68	1.00	#2
13	Elizaveta USMANTSEVA / Vladislav LYSOY	UKR	52.17	27.59		26.58	3.68	3.18	3.25	3.32	3.18	2.00	#4
14	Veera KESTILA / Callum BULLARD	AUS	50.58	24.68		25.90	3.36	3.04	3.25	3.29	3.25	0.00	#1

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Katherine BOBAK / Ian BEHARRY	CAN	147.72	2	1
2	Britney SIMPSON / Matthew BLACKMER	USA	141.28	3	2
3	Jessica CALALANG / Zack SIDHU	USA	139.32	1	3
4	Natalja ZABIJAKO / Sergei KULBACH	EST	129.88	7	4
5	Klara KADLECOVA / Petr BIDAR	CZE	129.18	5	5
6	Valeria GRECHUKHINA / Andrei FILONOV	RUS	127.83	4	6
7	Magdalena KLATKA / Radoslaw CHRUSCINSKI	POL	115.07	8	7
8	Ekaterina KRUTSKIKH / Vladimir MOROZOV	RUS	112.37	6	10
9	Maria PALIAKOVA / Mikhail FOMICHEV	BLR	109.01	9	8
10	Camille MENDOZA / Christopher BOYADJI	FRA	103.36	10	9
11	Alexandra RODRIGUEZ / Aritz MAESTU	ESP	91.30	13	11
12	Rachel EPSTEIN / Dmitry EPSTEIN	NED	85.97	12	12
13	Elizaveta USMANTSEVA / Vladislav LYSOY	UKR	85.75	11	13
14	Veera KESTILA / Callum BULLARD	AUS	71.49	14	14

JGP Estonia Pairs Short Program Results

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Jessica CALALANG / Zack SIDHU	USA	49.99	26.90		23.09	5.71	5.64	5.86	5.79	5.86	0.00	#14
2	Katherine BOBAK / Ian BEHARRY	CAN	49.73	26.84		22.89	5.79	5.57	5.89	5.75	5.61	0.00	#1
3	Britney SIMPSON / Matthew BLACKMER	USA	49.57	26.65		22.92	5.61	5.50	5.89	5.86	5.79	0.00	#4
4	Valeria GRECHUKHINA / Andrei FILONOV	RUS	46.38	24.61		21.77	5.54	5.43	5.46	5.43	5.36	0.00	#6
5	Klara KADLECOVA / Petr BIDAR	CZE	44.92	24.30		20.62	5.18	5.25	5.14	5.14	5.07	0.00	#7
6	Ekaterina KRUTSKIKH / Vladimir MOROZOV	RUS	44.56	23.95		21.61	5.61	5.07	5.32	5.57	5.43	1.00	#11
7	Natalja ZABIJAKO / Sergei KULBACH	EST	40.93	19.48		21.45	5.39	5.14	5.50	5.36	5.43	0.00	#12
8	Magdalena KLATKA / Radoslaw CHRUSCINSKI	POL	38.70	22.11		16.59	4.39	3.93	4.29	4.25	3.89	0.00	#5
9	Maria PALIAKOVA / Mikhail FOMICHEV	BLR	36.30	18.41		17.89	4.64	4.29	4.54	4.54	4.36	0.00	#3
10	Camille MENDOZA / Christopher BOYADJI	FRA	35.21	18.19		17.02	4.43	4.18	4.21	4.25	4.21	0.00	#9
11	Elizaveta USMANTSEVA / Vladislav LYSOY	UKR	33.58	18.87		14.71	3.75	3.50	3.71	3.79	3.64	0.00	#10
12	Rachel EPSTEIN / Dmitry EPSTEIN	NED	33.43	17.79		16.64	4.39	3.93	4.14	4.14	4.21	1.00	#2
13	Alexandra RODRIGUEZ / Aritz MAESTU	ESP	30.13	14.88		15.25	3.93	3.64	3.82	3.93	3.75	0.00	#8
14	Veera KESTILA / Callum BULLARD	AUS	20.91	8.73		13.18	3.43	3.04	3.32	3.32	3.36	1.00	#13

JGP Estonia Pairs Preview

This is the last stop on the Junior Grand Prix and spots in the Final are on the line.  Simpson and Blackmer have the 4th best score of the season and the top score in the field.  This is their first season together and they made a big splash by winning gold in their first event.  They have a very nice flowy style and good elements and should be very competitive for their second gold medal.  They need a 1st-6th place finish to qualify for the Final.

Bobak and Beharry are another new team that have impressed this season.  They took home a silver from their first event and have the 8th best total score of the season.  The strength is really their free skate, and they have typically placed lower in the short and had to pull up in the free.  If they can start with a strong short program, they should be in the mix for the gold, otherwise they should easily land on the podium here.  They need a 1st-5th place finish to qualify for the Final.

Calalang and Sidhu are another North American team in contention here.  They competed last season on the JGP as well, but showed improvement by placing 4th at their first event this season.  They need a gold or silver or a bronze with a score of 149.53 or higher.

Already in the Final are Chinese teams Sui/Han and Yu/Jin.  Petaikina and Kurduykov of Russia are on the bubble waiting for the outcomes of Calalang/Sidhu and Fedorova/Miroshkin.  If neither team is able to earn the points to take over Petaikina and Kurduykov, Calalang and Sidhu can earn the final spot if they finish 4th and Fedorova/Miroshkin finish lower and Fedorova/Miroshkin can earn the final spot with a bronze.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Simpson/Blackmer
Silver: Bobak/Beharry
Bronze: Calalang/Sidhu

Bios of the competitors:

Kestila/Bullard, AUS: They finished 20^th at their international debut in Austria.  Their personal best is 75.84.  She is 13 and he is 17.

Paliakova/Fomichev, BLR: They finished 18th at Junior Worlds.  They placed 8^th at their JGP debut in Poland.  Their personal best is 102.74.  She is 19 and he is 20.

Bobak/Beharry, CAN: They won silver at their JGP debut in Poland.  Their personal best is 132.54.  She is 17 and he is 20.

Kadlecova/Bidar, CZE: They finished 15th at Worlds, 7th at Europeans and 8th at Junior Worlds.  They placed 8th at JGP Austria.  They placed 6th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.   Their personal best is 139.94.  She is 16 and he is 20.

Zabijako/Kulbach, EST: They finished 16th at Worlds and 13th at Europeans.  This is their JGP debut.  Their personal best is 12656.  She is 17 and he is 18.

Mendozza/Boyadji, FRA:

Epstein/Epstein, NED: They finished 17th at Junior Worlds.  They finished 18^th at their JGP debut in Austria.  Their personal best is 86.33.  She is 18 and he is 18 (they are twins).  

Klatka/Chruscinski, POL: They finished 14th at Junior Worlds.  They placed 7^th at JGP Poland.  Their personal best is 104.82.  She is 14 and he is 19.

Grechukhina/Filonova, RUS: They finished 6^th at their international debut at JGP Poland.  Their personal best is 110.44.  She is 13 and he is 18.

Krutskinkh/Morozov, RUS: They finished 6^th at their JGP debut in Latvia.  Their personal best is 121.95.  She is 13 and he is 18. 

Rodriguez/Maestu, ESP: They finished 17^th at their international debut in Austria.  Their personal best is 90.97.  She is 14 and he is 21.

Usmantseva/Lysoy, UKR: This is their international debut.  She is 14 and he is 15.

Calalang/Sidhu, USA: They finished 4^th at JGP Poland.  Their personal best is 122.81.  She is 16 and he is 19.

Simpson/Blackmer, USA: They won gold at their international debut at JGP Poland.  Their personal best is 141.42.  She is 15 and he is 19. 

JGP Poland Pairs Free Skate Results

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Britney SIMPSON / Matthew BLACKMER	USA	92.53	45.22		47.31	5.86	5.64	5.96	6.04	6.07	0.00	#11
2	Katherine BOBAK / Ian BEHARRY	CAN	90.91	47.67		43.24	5.46	5.14	5.46	5.46	5.50	0.00	#7
3	Tatiana TUDVASEVA / Sergei LISIEV	RUS	84.18	42.02		42.16	5.50	5.18	5.21	5.32	5.14	0.00	#10
4	Jessica CALALANG / Zack SIDHU	USA	80.70	38.04		42.66	5.39	5.14	5.39	5.43	5.32	0.00	#8
5	Madeline AARON / Max SETTLAGE	USA	75.75	34.38		41.37	5.14	5.04	5.21	5.18	5.29	0.00	#9
6	Valeria GRECHUKHINA / Andrei FILONOV	RUS	71.08	35.96		38.12	4.93	4.68	4.71	4.86	4.64	3.00	#6
7	Magdalena KLATKA / Radoslaw CHRUSCINSKI	POL	70.43	37.63		32.80	4.25	3.93	4.14	4.07	4.11	0.00	#5
8	Julia LAVRENTIEVA / Yuri RUDIK	UKR	68.33	36.44		32.89	4.21	4.07	4.07	4.14	4.07	1.00	#2
9	Maria PALIAKOVA / Mikhail FOMICHEV	BLR	66.29	32.71		34.58	4.39	4.18	4.36	4.36	4.32	1.00	#4
10	Aleksandra MALINKIEWICZ / Sebastian LOFEK	POL	61.09	32.27		28.82	3.86	3.29	3.61	3.68	3.57	0.00	#1
11	Magdalena JASKOLKA / Piotr SNOPEK	POL	56.83	28.60		28.23	3.68	3.29	3.54	3.57	3.57	0.00	#3

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Britney SIMPSON / Matthew BLACKMER	USA	141.42	1	1
2	Katherine BOBAK / Ian BEHARRY	CAN	132.54	5	2
3	Tatiana TUDVASEVA / Sergei LISIEV	RUS	129.35	2	3
4	Jessica CALALANG / Zack SIDHU	USA	122.81	4	4
5	Madeline AARON / Max SETTLAGE	USA	118.51	3	5
6	Valeria GRECHUKHINA / Andrei FILONOV	RUS	110.44	6	6
7	Magdalena KLATKA / Radoslaw CHRUSCINSKI	POL	104.82	8	7
8	Maria PALIAKOVA / Mikhail FOMICHEV	BLR	102.74	7	9
9	Julia LAVRENTIEVA / Yuri RUDIK	UKR	101.35	9	8
10	Aleksandra MALINKIEWICZ / Sebastian LOFEK	POL	93.10	10	10
11	Magdalena JASKOLKA / Piotr SNOPEK	POL	86.25	11	11

JGP Poland Pairs Preview

Tudvaseva and Lisiev finished below the podium at the first event in Latvia.  But with the absence of top Chinese teams, they should be a contender here.  Their biggest competition will be from Aaron/Settlage of the United States and Bobak/Beharry of Canada who are both making their international debut.  Aaron/Settlage are the reigning national novice champions and competed well against established teams at the junior level in their summer competitions.  Bobak/Beharry are a new team and won the free skate at the Indy Pairs Challenge earlier this summer.  Brittany Simpson of the United States is one of the more experienced skaters of the bunch, having competed on the JGP, at Junior Worlds and on the Grand Prix.  She is competing here with her new partner Matthew Blackmer and will be looking to recapture the same success.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Bobak/Beharry
Silver: Aaron/Settlage
Bronze: Tudvaseva/Lisiev

Paliakova/Fomichev, BLR: They finished 18th at Junior Worlds.  This is their JGP debut.  She is 19 and he is 20.

Bobak/Beharry, CAN: This is their first season together and is their JGP debut.  She is 17 and he is 20.

Jaskolka/Snopek, POL: They finished 14th at JGP Great Britain and 13th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Their personal best is 90.22.  She is 14 and he is 20.

Klatka/Chruscinski, POL: They finished 14th at Junior Worlds.  They placed 12th at JGP Austria and 11th at JGP Germany last season.  Their personal best is 103.13.  She is 14 and he is 19.

Malinkiewicz/Lofek, POL

Grechukhina/Filonova, RUS

Tudvaseva/Lisiev, RUS: They finished 5th at their JGP debut in Latvia.  Their personal best is 123.56.  She is 14 and he is 18.

Lavrentieva/Rudik, UKR: They finished 15th at Junior Worlds.  They placed 13th at JGP Austria last season.  Their personal best is 102.29.  She is 14 and he is 19.

Aaron/Settlage, USA: This is their international debut.  She is 16 and he is 19.

Calalang/Sidhu, USA: They finished 10th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  She is 16 and he is 19.

Simpson/Blackmer, USA: This is their first season competing together and is their international debut.  She is 15 and he is 19.