Bradie Tennell and Mariah Bell shared the podium in the ladies competition with strong performances ahead of the 2019 GEICO U.S. Figure Skating Championships in January. 2018 U.S. champion Tennell had the best performance of both short program and free skate segments to take gold with 202.41 points. Bell was in fourth place after the short program, but delivered a stellar free skate with only one negative Grade of Execution to win the bronze medal with 196.60 points. Megan Wessenberg finished 12th with a score of 144.79.
Jason Brown led the senior contingent, claiming the gold medal in the men’s competition. Brown was in second place after the short program, scoring 95.50 points in his clean performance. The Toronto-based skater jumped into first place after his free skate, landing all 11 jumps in his 167.92-point program. With 263.42 total points, the win marks Brown’s first title of the season and first gold medal in international competition since 2016.
In the senior pairs competition, the U.S. landed two spots on the podium with Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Chris Knierim securing silver, and Deanna Stellato and Nathan Bartholomay earning the bronze medal.
The Knierims were in third place going into the final segment and went on to win the free skate with 118.80 points. They finished with 182.82 total points to secure their second Challenger Series silver medal of the season. Stellato and Bartholomay entered the free skate in fifth place and fought to a podium finish with 176.44 total points.
Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc were in second place after the short program, but suffered a hard fall in their free skate to finish fifth with 169.67 total points.
“I got checked out at the hospital and I am going to continue my recovery back home,” Cain said after receiving medical attention. “Thank you for all of your love and supporting us.”
In the junior competition, siblings Caroline Green and Gordon Green won the ice dance title, winning both the rhythm dance and the free skate. The U.S. junior silver medalists topped the field by over 14 points, winning their first international medal of the season with 153.88 total points.
Pairs skaters Chelsea Liu and Ian Meyh also collected hardware for Team USA, claiming the bronze medal in the junior competition. The duo moved from fourth up to third place after their free skate with an overall score of 97.80.
For more news and results from 2018 Golden Spin, please visit the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone.
