Figure skating: Rochette second in Canadian short programme
London (AFP) – Five-time defending champion Joannie Rochette settled for second place behind Cynthia Phaneuf after the women’s short programme on Friday at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships.
Phaneuf, skating just ahead of Rochette in the final two routines of the last group, received scores of 66.30 points from judges while Rochette scored 64.15 to take second with Amelie Lacoste a distant third at 53.99.
The short programme counts for one-third of the total women’s score with Saturday’s free skate accounting for the rest.
Two skaters from each discipline at the meet will qualify for next month’s Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, with Phaneuf and Rochette in a strong position to advance.
Men’s and pairs short programmes and the original dance were scheduled later Friday with top two after the pairs, dance and women’s free skates Saturday and the men’s free skate Sunday qualifying to skate in the Olympic Games on home ice.
