Kimmie Meissner, the bubbly, giggling 17-year old from Bel Air got angry Saturday night.
Sitting in sixth place after the short program, the current World and U.S. champ set out to finish strong in the free skate.
“I definitely felt more determined,” Meissner told the Associated Press. “I was a little angry.”
It worked. Meissner used a strong free skate to win the Four Continents Championships in Colorado Springs, Col., with a score of 172.75, besting Emily Hughes, whom Meissner had just defeated at the U.S. Championships last month.
Over the past month, Meissner has proven capable of both maintaining a lead and charging back to claim one. What?s next? How about defending a title for the first time in her career. Meissner will try and maintain her status of world champ when she travels to Tokyo for the World Championships, set for March 19 to 25.
Aside from ironing out the kinks from this past weekend?s competition, Meissner is also hoping to add her famous triple axel in time for the March competition. But, having not hit the jump in competition for over two years, Meissner must have it perfected in order to execute it.
“It?s not ready,” Meissner?s coach Pam Gregory said. “It?s not worth the risk of disaster.”
While the triple axel would score Meissner big points in hopes of defending her world title, she can?t afford another mishap like the one in Thursday?s short program. Meissner took a spill on a triple lutz. But, despite being in sixth, Meissner was just 4.11 points out of the top slot.
Meissner scored a 120.26 in the free skate, besting her nearest competitor, Hughes, by nine points. Meissner won the title with a 6.15-point cushion over Hughes, who took second. Canadian Joannie Rochette claimed third, and American Alissa Czisny took fifth.
American Evan Lysacek claimed the men?s title in comeback fashion, too, after trailing in the short program.
Meissner now holds the U.S., Four Continents and World championship titles.
? The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Looking ahead
» The World Championships will feature Japanese sensations Miki Ando and Mao Asada, who are the favorites to challenge Meissner?s crown.
» The World Championships can be seen on ESPN. The short program will take place March 23, and the free skate March 24.
» After Worlds, Meissner will look forward to graduation. She is scheduled to graduate with her Fallston High classmates May 31.
