Lorraine McNamara and Quinn Carpenter moved into podium position with their 71.40-point rhythm dance. The couple completed Level 4 twizzles and received grades of execution above 1.00 for every element. In their second Grand Prix appearance, they enter the free dance in third place.
In fourth place after the rhythm dance, Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko finished just behind their American counterparts. The duo closed their program with a beautiful Level 4 rotational lift, scoring 66.93 points.
Russia’s Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin lead the pack with 78.18 points, while Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy sit in second place with 77.36 points.
In the pairs competition, Deanna Stellato and Nathan Bartholomay are in sixth place after the short program, scoring 56.44 points. The couple fell on their side-by-side triple toes, but closed the performance with a Level 4 lift.
Italy’s Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise lead the pairs contingent (68.18), while Russia’s Natalia Zabiiako and Alexander Enbert, and Daria Pavliuchenko and Denis Khodykin placed second (67.59) and third (63.80), respectively.
Angela Wang placed ninth in the short program. She scored a season best 53.76 points on her performance to “Praying” by Kesha.
After the short program, reigning Olympic champion Alina Zagitova of Russia is in first (68.90), Japan’s Yuna Shiraiwa finished second (63.77) and Loena Hendrickx of Belgium placed third (63.17).
Competition continues tomorrow with the men’s short program, followed by the ladies and pairs free skate and the free dance.
For more news and results from 2018 Helsinki Grand Prix of Figure Skating, please visit the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. The competition can be streamed on the Figure Skating Pass on NBC Sports Gold.
Results
ICE DANCERS LEAD TEAM USA AFTER DAY ONE AT HELSINKI GRAND PRIX
Team USA landed two top-five finishes in the rhythm dance competition at the 2018 Helsinki Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki.
