(Colorado Springs) Keegan Messing, in the men’s category, as well as the tandem formed by Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, in pairs, allowed Canada to collect two medals, Saturday, during the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
Kao Miura of Japan took the men’s crown with a final score of 281.53 points followed by Messing who finished with a personal best 275.57 points. Shun Sato of Japan placed third with a score of 259.14.
PHOTO GEOFF ROBINS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Kao Miura
“I had a hard time on the ice,” Messing said of the competition being staged at altitude.
“I really had to take it easy. I had great training after the Nationals, but when I got here I was very tired again. I stayed focused on my breathing and my training. »
In the pairs, Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps won the bronze medal with 193.84 points. It was the fourth medal in five international competitions this season for the Canadian champions who posted an international personal best in their free program with 125.45 points.
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan won the gold with a score of 208.24. Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe of the US, were second with 201.11 points.
“It was a good stepping stone for us towards the World Championships,” said Stellato-Dudek. “We’re just trying to improve our programs as we approach the World Championships. »
Ontario’s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, in their first year as pairs, remained fourth with a personal best 186.33 points. For their part, Quebecers Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Éthier finished seventh with 167.67 points, an international personal best.
The competition ends Sunday with the free dance. Montrealers Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen (86.28 points) are second after Friday’s rhythm dance. Their fellow Quebecers Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha (79.04) rank third.
Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates are in first place after scoring 87.67 points.