'99 Nationals Diaries, Day 6: Sr. Ladies Short

Senior Ladies Short Program

First: Michelle Kwan

Michelle was Michelle, everything done neat and clean. She did a perfect triple lutz/double toe, a triple toe loop and double axel. Of course her expression and musicality were fabulous. The whole program went like clockwork. When she went into her trademark spiral the crowd roared. She got the only standing ovation of the entire day. Her marks were one 5.7 technical the rest 5.8s, one 6 presentation the rest 5.9.

Second: Sarah Hughes

She skated to Chopin's Fantasia Improptu, a pretty program. But she needs to work on her line and extension. All her jumps were solid including a triple lutz combo and I think a solo triple flip.

Third: Amber Corwin

Wow a very good jazzy performance to Take 5. Amber did a triple toe/triple toe combination and a triple loop as a solo jump. I think she should be in second place, because she had much better presentation than Sarah.

Fourth: Naomi Nari Nam

Yet another entry in the courageous little girl skaters category. Naomi fell on her opening triple lutz combo, and whacked her head good. She stood up holding her head and it looked like she was going to leave the ice. Then she went into her combo spin and finished the rest of the program brilliantly. Despite the bad fall she stayed in fourth with great spins, speed and spirals.

Fifth: Erin Pearl

A surprise to many but not to me, I have been a fan of Erin's since she was a Novice. She did a triple loop/double toe combo, but doubled her solo triple jump. Everything else was solid and she did an especially good circular step sequence. She skated with wonderful presentation and musicality.

Sixth: Angela Nikodinov

Oh poor Angela. She popped her lutz, doubled her solo triple and two footed it besides. But it was a lovely program much more artistic than we usually see from Angela. Her speed and her other excellent elements held her up.