US Nationals: Junior Ladies Free Skate

1. Ashley Cain: 45.74 TES + 44.35 PCS -1.00 = 89.09 Total: 137.44 
1. She is skating to Music of the Night and is currently in 7th place
2. Her feet get tied up on her first jump and she puts her hands down
3. She recovers with a nice triple jump
4. She needs to straighten her free leg in the sit spin position
5. She lands a very nice double axel
6. Another nice triple
7. A nice triple double combination but a little tight on the second landing
8. A really pretty layback spin but the biellman position needs a little work
9. She has a nice arabesqe spiral position
10. A nice double axel + double + double combination
11. A really nice step sequence into her final combination spin and I'd like to see a little more flexibility in the catch foot position
12. A solid program and kudos to her for skating a virtually clean program after her pairs short program this afternoon
2. Haley Dunne: 44.93 TES + 41.54 PCS = 86.47 Total: 132.57 and into 2nd place 
1. She is skating to the Plaza of Execution and is currently in 9th place
2. She opened with a nice triple
3. Another nice triple
4. She popped her next jump into a single
5. She has some nice sit spin positions
6. A nice arabesque spiral position for her
7. Triple + double + double combo
8. Nice positions on her layback spin but I'd like for her to fix her hands
9. A nice double axel + double combo
10. Another nice triple for her and she follows up with a solid double axel
11. Nice positions in her combination spin and good speed, although she loses her centering in her final upright position
3. Nina Jiang: 42.13 TES + 40.68 PCS -1.00 = 81.81 Total: 128.55 and into 3rd place 
1. She is skating to Ladies in Lavender and is currently in 8th place
2. She falls on her opening triple jump
3. Spread eagle into a triple + double combo
4. A nice fast rotation in her next triple jump
5. A nice wrapped arm positon in her layback spin and she maintains her speed into the Biellman
6. I'd like to see her really push through this step sequence and really cover the ice
7. She pops her next jump
8. A very nice triple double combination
9. Nice fast sit spins
10. Nice triple + double + double combination
11. A good double axel
12. Final combination spin starts with a nice camel position, good sit spins and an upright spin that never reaches the full catch foot extended position
4. Alison Timlen: 29.87 TES + 40.57 PCS = 70.44 Total: 115.64 and into 4th place 
1. She is skating to Victory at Sea and is currently in 10th place
2. She starts her program with her sit spin
3. She starts her jumps with a nice double axel
4. A little crooked in the air and puts a hand down on the first jump of her triple double combo
5. This step sequence seems very slow and small and I'd like her to put some power behind her steps
6. Landed a little low on her next triple
7. Some nice positions in her combination spin, especially in the layback position
8. A little crooked on the next triple but she hangs on to the landing
9. Two foots the triple in her triple double combo
10. Two foots and hands down on the landing of her triple
11. Nice height on her double axel
12. She seems to be running out of steam here at the end of her program but has nice speed in her camel spin
5. Elise Eng: 24.28 TES + 37.50 PCS -2.00  = 59.78 Total 103.02 and into 5th place 
1. She is currently in 11th place
2. She steps out of the landing of her first triple
3. She falls on the landing of her second triple
4. She falls on her double axel--the poor girl is having a rough skate but she seems to actually be fully rotating and landing these jumps, perhaps a confidence issue or her feet are just not under her today
5. A nice recovery to land a double jump
6. She has pretty positions in her spins and she is a fast spinner
7. Slight two footed landing on her next triple
8. A lot of reaching down in her step sequence but some nice accents with the music
9. Nice air position on her double axel but she turns out of the landing
10. Double double combination with a step out on the landing
11. Nice position in her camel spin, good low sit spin and nice flexibility in her upright spin all with good speed
6. Nicole Rajic: 24.44 TES + 33.71 PCS -3.00 = 55.15 Total: 90.78 and into 6th place 
1. She is skating to La Boheme and is currently in 12th place
2. She slips on the take off of her first jump and falls
3. She falls on the landing of her triple jump
4. Another fall on her next triple--I think the first slip really threw off her concentration but the audience is getting behind her
5. Some good positions in her sit spin
6. She lands a nice double jump
7. Double double and she hangs onto the landing of the second jump
8. She lands a nice double axel double combination
9. Nice speed through her spins but I'd like to see her stretch more through her free leg; you don't see many ladies doing the triangle position in their spins
10. Her step sequence seems a little slow
11. Low landing on her second double axel and she has to put her free leg down
12. I'd like to see her have a more definitive arm in her layback position
7. Lauren Dinh: 57.64 TES + 44.84 PCS -1.00 = 101.48 Total: 153.99 and into 1st place 
1. She is skating to Danse Macabre and is currently in 3rd place
2. She is starting with her layback spin and she is a very fast spinner and has some nice flexibility in her Biellman but I'd like to see her stretch her leg a little more
3. She falls on her first triple
4. Nice triple flip double toe
5. A very solid double axel
6. A very nice triple
7. A nice triple toe double toe
8. A nice low sit spin position but she could use a little more stretch through her free leg
9. A nice triple jump
10. Triple, double, double loop combo
11. Some interesting mores in her step sequence and I'd like to see her really put more into this sequence
12. Nice positions in her combination spin and great speed
8. Courtney Hicks: 62.37 TES + 51.01 PCS -1.00 = 112.38 Total: 173.22 and into 1st place
1. She is skating to Malaguena and is currently in 1st place
2. Great triple triple to start her program
3. A nice triple salchow
4. Great position in her layback spin but I'm still not crazy about her Biellman posiion
5. A nice easy double axel
6. I'd like to see a better camel position from her but the donut position is nice
7. Triple double double combination nicely done and very solid
8. Triple triple sequence
9. A fall on her triple lutz
10. Nice difficulty in her step sequence
11. Her final combination spin including the position she has invented called the Tw-Hicks
9. Mary Beth Marley: 44.17 TES + 45.10 PCS -1.00 = 87.27 Total: 137.82 and into 3rd place 
1. She is skating to Jealousy and is currently in 4th place
2. She starts with her double axel and turns out of the landing but doesn't put her free leg down
3. She falls on her first triple jump
4. She skates with so much speed
5. A little low on the landing of her next triple but she hangs on to it
6. A nice double axel double toe combination
7. She has great positions in her spins, nice flexiblity and good speed
8. A turn out of the first jump in her triple double combination but she keeps her free leg up
9. She falls on her next triple
10. A beautiful triple jump with a nice landing to recover
11. Really pretty layback positions and a nice Biellman
12. I really like the intensity with which she skates her step sequence and she has a really nice presence on the ice throughout this program
13. Great sit spin positions
10. McKinzie Daniels: 47.82 TES + 42.23 PCS -1.00 = 89.05 Total: 138.59 and into 3rd place
1. She is skating to Spartacus and is currently in 5th place
2. I really like her dress and it's very unique
3. She opens with a nice double axel double toe
4. She falls on her triple flip
5. Double toe double toe combination
6. I'm not crazy about the illusions that so many of the skaters are adding to their spin combinations especially since they can't execute them in a full split position
7. Not a lot of energy in this step sequence
8. A nice triple salchow
9. Another nice triple jump
10. Nice layback spin combination
11. Another nice triple jump
12. Nice landing on her final triple
13. Good positions in her sit spins to end the program
11. Polina Edmunds: 41.39 TES + 42.74 PCS = 84.13 Total: 132.91 and into 6th place 
1. She is skating to Come Fly with Me and Putting on the Ritz and is currently in 6th place
2. Nice solid triple to open her program
3. Her feet get tangled up in her next triple and she puts her hand down
4. Nice easy triple for her to recover
5. She has great spin positions and good speed but I'd like to see her work on her centering and the exit from the spin
6. Nicely rotated double axel double axel sequence
7. Really nice Biellman position in her layback spins
8. Triple double loop double loop combination
9. Good triple double combination but a little tight on the landing
10. I'd like to see her look up more and really perform this step sequence
11. Nice triple jump
12. I'd like to see a little more stretch through her free leg in the final sit spin
12. Katarina Kulgeyko: 47.66 TES + 45.88 PCS = 93.54 Total: 146.62 and into 3rd place 
1. She is skating to Nightmare Before Christmas and is currently in 2nd place
2. Did she delete a jump at the beginning?  It looked like she set up for one and skipped it
3. Her first jump was a double axel + triple toe
4. Nice spin combination
5. Triple double combination
6. She gets really low in her sit spin positions but a little bobble on the way out
7. Double jump
8. Double axel triple sequence but she turned out of the second jump
9. I'd like to see more energy and more performance from her in this step sequence
10. She has really nice landings on all those triple jumps
11. Double jump
12. Nice layback spin with a geat Biellman position

US Nationals: Junior Ladies Short Program

1. Haley Dunne: 24.81 TES + 21.29 PCS = 46.10
1. She executed a triple toe + double toe, triple loop, Level 4 Layback Spin, Level 2 Circular Step Sequence, Double axel, Level 2 Camel Spin, and Level 3 combination spin with only two negative GOEs.
2. Polina Edmunds: 28.52 TES + 20.26 PCS = 48.78
1. She executed a triple loop, Level 4 layback spin, triple toe + double toe, double axel, Level 4 camel spin, Level 3 circular step sequence, and Level 4 combination spin with only one negative GOE. 
3. Alison Timlen: 22.70 TES + 22.50 PCS = 45.20
1. She executed a Level 2 circular step sequence, triple lutz (under-rotated) + double toe, triple loop (under-rotated), Level 4 camel spin, Level 2 layback spin, double axel, and Level 4 combination spin with only two negative GOEs. 
4. Ashley Cain: 27.46 TES + 20.89 PCS = 48.35 
1. She executed a triple lutz + double toe, triple loop, Level 3 camel spin, double axel, Level 2 layback spin, Level 3 circular step sequence, and level 4 combination spin with only two negative GOEs.
5. McKinzie Daniels: 28.98 TES + 20.56 PCS = 49.54
1. She executed a triple loop, triple lutz, double toe, Level 3 straight line step sequence, Level 3 camel spin, double axel, Level 3 combination spin and Level 4 layback spin with only two negative GOEs.
6. Nicole Rajic: 18.26 TES + 18.37 PCS -1.00 = 35.63
1. She executed a triple lutz + double toe, triple loop (under-rotated), Level 2 camel spin, Level 2 straight line step sequence, Level 4 combination spin and Level 2 layback spin with two positive GOEs.  She had one fall and did not complete the required double axel.
7. Nina Jiang: 27.04 TES + 20.70 PCS -1.00 = 46.74 
1. She executed a triple loop, triple toe + double toe, Level 3 layback spin, Level 2 camel spin, Level 3 straight line step sequence, double axel, and Level 3 combination spin with only one negative GOE.  She had one fall. 
8. Mary Beth Marley: 28.32 TES + 22.23 PCS = 50.55 and into 1st place
1. She executed a triple lutz + double toe, triple loop, double axel, Level 4 layback spin, Level 2 straight line step sequence, Level 3 camel spin and Level 4 combination spin with only two negative GOEs.
9. Katarina Kulgeyko: 30.60 TES + 22.48 PCS = 53.08 and into 1st place 
1. Nice fast rotation on opening triple double combo with tano variation
2. Nice solo triple
3. Very nice double axel
4. Nice positions in her spins
5. She also has nice speed through her spins
6. I like her presence on the ice and she injects a lot of personality into her program
7. Great speed through her Biellman position in the layback spin
10. Lauren Dinh: 29.79 TES + 22.72 PCS = 52.51 and into 2nd place
1. Nice solo triple to start her program
2. Triple double combination
3. Nice fast combination spin but I'd like her to straighten her bottom leg in the catch foot spin
4. Nice double axel
5. Good camel spin
6. I like this footwork sequence but the arms seem very repetitive
7. Nice position in her layback spins but she could work on really extending her Biellman
11. Elise Eng: 23.09 TES + 21.15 PCS -1.00 = 43.24 and into 10th place 
1. She is 15 years old and skating to Love Story
2. She opens with a nice double axel
3. She falls on her next triple jump
4. Great fast rotation on her triple double combination
5. Nice positions in her layback spin and great speed even through the Bielmann
6. I like her footwork sequence but I'd like her to really extend through her free leg; it also seems to be performed toward the ice rather than the audience
7. Nice position in her camel spin
8. A decent spiral position during a musical highlight
9. Great speed in her final combination spin but it takes her a little long to straighten her bottom leg in her leg catch position
12. Courtney Hicks: 35.87 TES + 24.97 PCS = 60.84 and into 1st place 
1. She is 15 and skating to Dark Eyes
2. Nice triple triple combination to start off
3. Good double axel
4. Solid triple jump
5. Her layback positions are gorgeous and so much speed--she needs to work on really extending her Biellman though
6. Her chest looks a little low in her camel spin but the donut position is nice
7. She's really putting a lot into this footwork sequence and it's nice to see it being executed with a lot of energy
8. Her sit spin variation looks like it belongs to a contortionist and is very unique

U.S. Nationals: Junior Ladies Preview

Courtney Hicks finished 9 points ahead of the rest of the field at sectionals and Lauren Dinh finished 10 points ahead of the rest of the pack.  These two ladies should be able to make the podium if they skate like they did at sectionals.  Katarina Kulgeyko and Ashley Cain both won medals as novices last season and are competing for the first time as juniors.  Ashley Cain and Mary Beth Marley are juggling double duty as they compete in singles and pairs but their double training throughout the season could pay off here.  Both of them are in medal contention in their pair events so they have nothing to lose here in singles and may be able to turn in a better performance without the added pressure.  Nina Jiang is the only one in the field with international singles experience and is looking to move up after her 5th place finish at nationals last season.  With so many of the skaters that competed on the Junior Grand Prix competing at the senior level, there will likely be few spots for the junior skaters on the Junior Worlds team.  These ladies will have to really impress if they want to earn one of those spots.

Courtney Hicks: She qualified with a 1st place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.  She finished 5th at nationals last season at the novice level.

Lauren Dinh: Dinh qualified with a 1st place finish at Midwestern sectionals.

McKinzie Daniels: She qualified with a 2nd place finish at Midwestern sectionals.  She finished 9th at nationals last year as a junior.

Katarina Kulgeyko: She qualified with a 2nd place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.  She is the reigning national bronze medalist at the novice level.

Nina Jiang: She finished 5th at JGP Courchevel. Jiang qualified with a 3rd place finish at Midwestern sectionals.  She finished 5th at nationals last season at the junior level.

Polina Edmunds: She qualified with a 3rd place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.  She finished 6th at nationals last year as a novice.

Allison Timlen: She qualified with a 1st place finish at Eastern sectionals.  She finished 11th at nationals last season as a novice.

Haley Dunne: She qualified with a 2nd place finish at Eastern sectionals.  She finished 13th at nationals last season at the junior level.

Ashley Cain: Cain qualified with a 4th place finish at Midwestern sectionals.  She is the reigning national silver medalist at the novice level.

Mary Beth Marley: Marley qualified with a 4th place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.  She is the 2009 national silver medalist at the novice level.

Elise Eng: She qualified with a 3rd place finish at Eastern sectionals.

Nicole Rajic: She qualified with a 4th place finish at Midwestern sectionals.  She finished 12th at nationals last year at the novice level.