Nationals

Yang, Baker the new favorites after junior short dance

STAFF REPORTS
Figure Skaters Online

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GREENSBORO, N.C. — Joylyn Yang and Jean-Luc Baker upset junior dances favorites Charlotte Lichtman and Dean Copely in the short dance Tuesday at the 2011 U.S. Championships in Greensboro, N.C. Heading into the free dance Wednesday, Yang and Baker have a 56.09 points to 55.23 advantage on Lichtman and Copely, who are coming off a fifth place performance at the Junior Grand Prix.

Yang and Baker’s program to “My Favorite Things” by Oleg Fesov was highlighted by their second Viennese Waltz sequence. Valued at 8 points, the Level 4 element scored 8.43 for the team. Their opening non-touching midline sequence, rated a Level 3, also garnered them 8.21 points.

“We wanted a different style than we thought everyone else might have,“ Yang said. “Our coach found this piece and we loved it and got attached to it quick.”

Skating to “That’s Amore” and “An Evening in Rome” by Dean Martin, Lichtman and Copley outscored the leaders on components but with none of their technical elements scoring over 7.36 points (non-touching midline sequence, Level 4), they fell just short of the lead.

In third place, Lauri Bonacorsi and Travis Mager, who scored 52.39 behind a Level 3 non-touching midline sequence. Fourth place belongs to Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus (52.25).

For complete results from the 2011 U.S. Championships, please click here.

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