Photo Credit Getty Images
By Kristen Henneman
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Team USA brought home medals in both the pairs and ice dance events at the first ISU Junior Grand Prix event of the season in Riga, Latvia.
Caroline Mullen and Brendan Mullen secured the silver medal – the first Junior Grand Prix medal of their career – scoring international personal bests for both their programs. In addition, 2024 World Junior silver medalists Olivia Flores and Luke Wang picked up another podium finish to start their season, clinching the bronze in Latvia.
Skating their rhythm dance to "Stayin' Alive," "Night Fever" and "You Should Be Dancing" by the Bee Gees, the Mullens earned Level 4s on three elements, including their set of sequential twizzles, and claimed more than nine points for their midline step sequence. In total, the performance was awarded a score of 61.06, good for third in the standings at the halfway point of the ice dance event.
Less than one point out of second place, the brother and sister duo jumped to the second spot on the podium after the free dance thanks to four Level 4 elements, including their Level 4 synchronized twizzles, as well as their Level 3 circular step sequence, which the judges gave more than 10 points. Their performance to "La Terre vue du ciel" by Armand Amar tallied 95.36 points for 156.42 points overall, both new personal bests.
The silver marks the Mullens’ second medal of the season after they earned bronze at the 2024 Lake Placid Ice Dance International.
Making their international debut, Michelle Deych and Ryan Hu started strong in the rhythm dance, placing sixth with a score of 56.17. However, they dropped to 12th in the free dance, scoring 65.68, and placed 10th in the final standings with a score of 121.85.
Flores and Wang continued to shine on the international scene, winning their third Junior Grand Prix medal.
The 2024 U.S. junior champions picked up right where they left off last season, kicking off the pairs competition with a second-place finish in the short program with 54.38 points. Their program to "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight” by Jennifer Hudson finished just over one point behind the leaders and was highlighted by their throw triple Salchow and Level 4 lift.
Performing to music from The Lion King by Hans Zimmer in the free skate, Flores and Wang overcame a tough performance, taking fourth with 85.13 points after three falls. Nevertheless, Flores and Wang maintained their spot on the podium with 139.51 points overall.
In their international debut, Reagan Moss and Jakub Galbavy earned a sixth-place result.
They secured a new personal best in the short program with 47.68 points. The standout element in their program to "You Are The Reason (Duet Version)” by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis was their Level 4 lift. Skating to "This Is Me” by Kesha in the free, Moss and Galbavy finished the segment in sixth, tallying 79.48 points in the free and 127.16 points overall.
In the men’s event, 2024 U.S. junior bronze medalists Aleksandr Fegan finished seventh.
He received 61.51 points for his short program in which he avoided any negative grades of execution. On the final day of competition, Fegan claimed a top-five result in the free skate, setting a new personal best with 128.56 points. His performance featured a strong triple loop-double Axel-double loop sequence in the second half of the program that was awarded 11.45 points by the judges. His total score of 190.07 marked a new international personal best.
Representing the U.S. women was Annika Chao, who placed eighth. She tallied 51.94 points in the short program and 105.72 points in the free skate for a two-day total of 157.66.
For full results from JGP Latvia, visit the 2024 Junior Grand Prix Competition Central.
