Courtney Hicks - 2011 US Junior Champ

Lots of media interest regarding newly crowned US junior champ Courtney Hicks and her future future.

Golden Skate Hicks Turns Heads with Winning Performance

Christine Brennan Junior Ranks May Hold Sochi Star

Phil Hersh Is 5-foot Courtney Hicks the next big thing in U.S. skating?

Courtney already has a web page too. Click on the picture to visit her site.

2011 US Nationals Junior Ladies Results
1 Courtney Hicks, All Year FSC 1 60.84 1 112.38 173.22
2 Lauren Dinh, Broadmoor SC 3 52.51 2 101.48 153.99
3 Katarina Kulgeyko, Los Angeles FSC 2 53.08 3 93.54 146.62
4 McKinzie Daniels, Broadmoor SC 5 49.54 5 89.05 138.59
5 Mary Beth Marley, DuPage FSC 4 50.55 6 87.27 137.82
6 Ashley Cain, Stars FSC of Texas 7 48.35 4 89.09 137.44
7 Polina Edmunds, Peninsula SC 6 48.78 8 84.13 132.91
8 Haley Dunne, Washington FSC 9 46.10 7 86.47 132.57
9 Nina Jiang, Texas Gulf Coast FSC 8 46.74 9 81.81 128.55
10 Allison Timlen, Columbia FSC (MD) 10 45.20 10 70.44 115.64
11 Elise Eng, Princeton SC 11 43.24 11 59.78 103.02
12 Nicole Rajic, SC of New York 12 35.63 12 55.15 90.78

Hannah Miller - 2011 US Ladies Novice Champion

1 Hannah Miller, Lansing SC 3 39.34 1 82.96 122.30
2 Barbie Long, Springfield FSC 2 41.77 2 80.08 121.85
3 Mariah Bell, Rocky Mountain FSC 1 41.91 3 73.42 115.33
4 Amanda Hofmann, Highland SC 9 32.11 4 68.05 100.16
5 Mia Eisenhandler, Gate City FSC 6 33.30 6 65.07 98.37
6 Katia Gorodetsky, N/A 11 29.66 5 67.28 96.94
7 Alana Walker, Los Angeles FSC 4 35.11 10 60.78 95.89
8 Ana Draovitch, SC of Northern Virginia 5 33.98 9 61.46 95.44
9 Ysabel Tran, All Year FSC 10 31.45 8 62.59 94.04
10 Viviana Mathis, University of Delaware FSC 8 32.98 11 58.37 91.35
11 Jordan Bauth, Jamestown SC 7 33.16 12 57.77 90.93
12 Jessica Pfund, Broadmoor SC 12 25.92 7 63.59 89.51

US Ladies Novice Short Program Results

1. Mariah Bell
2. Barbie Long
3. Hannah Miller
4. Alana Walker
5. Ana Draovitch
6. Mia Eisenhandler
7. Jordan Bauth
8. Viviana Mathis
9. Amanda Hofmann
10. Ysabel Tran
11. Katia Gorodetsky
12. Jessica Pfund

Amanda Dobb's Announcement on Withdrawing from US Nationals

Amanda Dobbs competes at the

2010 Four Continents Championship

AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon

Amanda Dobbs, sixth place finisher in the senior ladies division at last year's US Figure Skating Championships, has withdrawn from this year's nationals. The 17-year-old California native posted the following statement on her website, AmandaDobbs.com.

"I am sad to announce that I have had to withdraw from the 2011 US National Championships in Greensboro, NC. I took a weird fall on a jump last week and hurt my ankle...and while it will heal up just fine...it will not do so in time for me to be ready to compete next week =(

I don't always understand why at the time, but I believe things happen for a reason! My training has been going very well and I'm looking forward to getting back onto the ice and working towards a great new year! Thanks for all of the kind words and support I have already received from so many of you!"

Agnes Zawadzki Readying for Senior US Nationals Debut

Agnes Zawadzki skates her long program at 2010 Cup of Russia

© Yurl Kochetkov/epa/Corbis

Agnes Zawadzki, who won the US ladies junior title last year, makes her senior national debut this week at the 2011 US Figure Skating Championships. The reigning World Junior silver medalist, Zawadzki, the sixteen year old from Chicago told IceNetwork that she's hoping to play spoiler in Greensboro.

Here are some key quotes from IceNetwork's article: Zawadzki aims to play spoiler at U.S. Champs

"I've got to do it, especially in the long program." - Agnes Zawadzki

"I'm still getting used to the pressure [of being in contention] at such high-level competitions." - Agnes Zawadzki

"If she had done the Junior Grand Prix, her results might have been a little stronger overall, and she could have made the [Junior Grand Prix] Final, but competing on the Senior Grand Prix she learned how to cope with the pressure of TV and compete with the top women in the world." - Tom Zakrajsek, Agnes' coach

"She's been working on her mental toughness, not just for the long program but in general." - Tom Zakrajsek

"There are so many great women to compete with at nationals, that to receive any kind of assignment -- be it worlds, Four Continents or junior worlds -- would be a huge honor." - Tom Zakrajsek

Kiri Baga Out of 2011 US Nationals

Kiri Baga will miss 2011 US Nationals

Kiri Baga, the 2009 US National Novice Champion and 2010 US Junior Pewter medalist, has withdrawn from the 2011 US Figure Skating Championships due to severe tendonitis in both ankles.

Baga had a strong fall season, culminating in a silver medal at the junior grand prix. However, she later withdrew from the competition due to her aggravated ankle.

Baga announced her withdrawl on her Twitter account today. She would have made her senior debut this week in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Note: Amanda Dobbs and Samantha Cesario have also withdrawn from US Nationals.

Cynthia Phaneuf Claims Second Canadian Title

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward

Coach Annie Barabe and Cynthia Phaneuf celebrate her second Canadian title.

In a lesson in perseverence Cynthia Phaneuf won her second Canadian champion on Saturday afternoon, seven years after her first title, rebounding from years of injuries and dramatic growth spurts that would have ended the career of lesser-determined athletes.

"Finally, finally, finally,” Phaneuf said moments after regaining the ladies title.

Myriane Samson rebounded from a fall in the short program that left her in fourth place to pull up to a silver medal. Her finish landed her a spot on the world team for the second year in a row; she finished 29th in 2010, as a replacement for Joannie Rochette. Amelie LaCoste finished third for the second Canadians bronze medal of her career, and Alejandra Navarro fell to fourth.

2011 Canadian Championships Senior Ladies Final Results

1 Cynthia Phaneuf QC 60.77 111.55 172.32
2 Myriane Samson QC 49.75 108.07 157.82
3 Amelie Lacoste QC 50.86 100.86 151.72
4 Alexandra Najarro CO 52.12 95.26 147.38
5 Adriana DeSanctis CO 47.81 96.42 144.23
6 Jessica Dube QC 48.81 82.09 130.90
7 Vanessa Grenier QC 44.13 85.80 129.93
8 Dallas Daniel AB/NT/NU 38.99 90.68 129.67
9 Kate Charbonneau MB 38.61 81.89 120.50
10 Sarah Jourdain QC 45.69 70.23 115.92
11 Devon Neuls BC/YT 37.92 77.01 114.93
12 Kelsey McNeil NB 34.52 75.40 109.92
13 Rylie McCulloch-Casarsa WO 38.61 68.59 107.20
14 Jessica-Amy Sergeant AB/NT/NU 36.05 70.73 106.78
15 Izabel Valiquette QC 35.62 69.09 104.71
16 Daniela-Bella Favot WO 33.97 65.08 99.05
17 Karine Chevrier QC 36.57 61.13 97.70
18 Jacqueline Lenuik BC/YT 33.36 56.06 89.42

Who is Alexandra Najarro?

Darren Stone, Victoria Times Colonist

Alexandra Najarro surprised many yesterday when she placed second in the ladies short program at the 2011 Canadian Figure Skating Championships. She may have even stunned herself. The petite teenager was already on a bus heading back to the competitors' hotel when she was dragged off of it to answer reporters' questions. "I'm new to all this," she apologized.

With a clean short program skate under her belt, triple toe-double toe combination, triple flip and double axel, Najarro lingers only behind Cynthia Phaneuf heading into today's long program. Although the young skater may now find herself heading to Tokyo, Japan in March as part of Canada's World team, she maintains that a trip to junior worlds would be thrilling enough.

Truth is, Najarro is already a seasoned skater on the international level, having spent three years on the junior grand prix circuit with her highest finish, a 5th place, at the 2008 John Curry Memorial. She placed 15th in the senior ladies division at the 2010 Canadians.

Here are some quick facts on Najarro.

She hails from Vaghan, Ontario.

17-year-old Najarro began skating at the age of five.

She will skate to Raul di Blasio's Otonal in today's free skate.

Short Program music: Tritsch Tratsch Plka by Johann Strauss with Second Waltz by Andre Rieu

'80s skating phenom Tracey Wainman coaches Najarro.

Choreographers: Shae-Lynn Bourne and Myke Gillman.

The teen attends a French immersion high school.

She played a small role in the Disney's Ice Princess film as Snowplow Sam.

Cynthia Phaneuf Halfway to Second Canadian Championship

Coach Annie Barabe and student

Cynthia Phaneuf celebrate a great short program

Reuters/Andy Clark

"When I came here I didn't hide myself from it. I said it openly. I'm here to win, and I'm not going to say that I want to skate well and be proud when I get off the ice. I want to go home and have the gold around my neck, and I know what I have to do to have the medal."

- Cynthia Phaneuf - January 21, 2010 - Post-Short Program

It's refreshing to see a female skater with a healthy and openly competitive attitude.

The final skater of the evening, Cynthia Phaneuf, won the short program at the 2011 Canadian Figure Skating Championships tonight. The Quebc skater performed a clean short program and heads into tomorrow's long program with a healthy 8.65 lead over second place finisher, 17-year-old Alexandra Najarro. Amelie Lacoste and Myriane Samson finished third and fourth, respectively. Jessica Dube, whose pairs partner Bryce Davison is sitting out the seasonfollowing knee surgery, placed fifth in her return to singles skating, while former US competitor Adriana DeSanctis sits in sixth place.

Short Program Results

1	Cynthia Phaneuf	QC	60.77	-	60.77
2	Alexandra Najarro	CO	52.12	-	52.12
3	Amelie Lacoste	QC	50.86	-	50.86
4	Myriane Samson	QC	49.75	-	49.75
5	Jessica Dube	QC	48.81	-	48.81
6	Adriana DeSanctis	CO	47.81	-	47.81
7	Sarah Jourdain	QC	45.69	-	45.69
8	Vanessa Grenier	QC	44.13	-	44.13
9	Dallas Daniel	AB/NT/NU	38.99	-	38.99
10	Rylie McCulloch-Casarsa	WO	38.61	-	38.61
11	Kate Charbonneau	MB	38.61	-	38.61
12	Devon Neuls	BC/YT	37.92	-	37.92
13	Karine Chevrier	QC	36.57	-	36.57
14	Jessica-Amy Sergeant	AB/NT/NU	36.05	-	36.05
15	Izabel Valiquette	QC	35.62	-	35.62
16	Kelsey McNeil	NB	34.52	-	34.52
17	Daniela-Bella Favot	WO	33.97	-	33.97
18	Jacqueline Lenuik	BC/YT	33.36	-	33.36

Rachael Flatt calls new East of Eden short program, "my best program yet."

Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

IceNetwork.com's latest article, Flatt scrapping jazzy short for Greensboro, contains many pre- Nationals' comments from US Champ Rachael Flatt and her coach, Tom Zakrajsek.

Highlights:

On Rachael's physical state:

"I've made a fully recovery." - Rachael Flatt

"She has been pain-free for a while and is extremely well prepared." - Tom Zakrajsek

"I'm training incredibly well heading into nationals." - Rachael Flatt

On choosing East of Eden music for her new short program:

"We wanted something more mature, more refined and elegant." - Tom Zakrajsek

"Lori came up with a phenomenal program." - Rachael Flatt

"I think it's my best program yet. I can't wait to debut it at nationals; I hope it blows everyone away." - Rachael Flatt

On using music so closely associated with Michelle Kwan:

"Certainly we are aware Michelle skated to the music. It was an amazing performance under the 6.0 system. I trust Lori's instincts; she suggested the music, and she choreographed it for the International Judging System [IJS], so it's a very different program under a very different system." - Tom Zakrajsek