Chock and Bates, Glenn in Podium Position After Day One at Cup of China

Madison Chock and Evan Bates, and Amber Glenn are in podium position after the short programs and rhythm dance at 2019 Cup of China, the fourth stop of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. In a strong showing, all members of Team USA placed in the top five heading into the final day of competition in Chongqing, China.

Chock and Bates finished second in the rhythm dance, scoring 80.34 points for their performance to “Too Darn Hot” from Kiss Me Kate. The 2019 Four Continents Champions opened with Level 4 straight line lift and received over 2.00 points for their Grade of Execution for four of five elements.

Also competing in ice dance, Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker scored 74.70 points and sit in fifth place. Their disco-themed rhythm dance included a closing Level 4 curve lift.

Russia’s Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov are in first place with 85.39 points, and Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen of Canada are in third with 78.41 points.

In the ladies competition, Glenn is in third place after the short program with 67.69 points. Her clean skate included an opening triple flip-triple toe loop combination and four Level 4 elements with all positive GOE. Skating to “Scars” by Madilyn Bailey, she received the second highest technical score in the field.

2019 Skate America champion Anna Shcherbakova of Russia is in first place with 73.51 points and Japan’s Satoko Miyahara is in second place with 68.91 points.

Camden Pulkinen is the lone U.S. man in China and currently sits in fourth place. Scoring 78.92 points, Pulkinen completed two Level 4 spins and a strong triple Axel.

China’s Han Yan and Boyang Jin sit in first (86.46) and second (85.43) place, respectively, and Matteo Rizzo of Italy is in third with 81.72 points.

In pairs, Tarah Kayne and Danny O’Shea are in fifth place after the short program with 64.08 points. The duo landed side-by-side triple Salchows and a throw triple loop and closed with a Level 4 reverse lasso lift.

Reigning World champions Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China are in first place (80.90), Canada’s Liubov Ilyushechkina and Charlie Bilodeau took the second spot (68.98), and 2019 Skate America champions Cheng Peng and Yang Jin of China are in third place (68.50).

Competition continues tomorrow with the free skates and free dance. Watch competition live and on-demand on the Figure Skating Pass on NBC Sports Gold.

Results