Vancouver, Canada

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GPF18 JPairs Podium 1070205726

Polina Kostiukovich/Dmitri Ialin (RUS), Anastasia Mishina/Aleksandr Galliamov (RUS) and Apollinariia Panfilova/Dmitry Rylov (RUS) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Anastasia Mishina/Aleksandr Galliamov came out on top in what was an all Russian Junior Grand Prix Pairs Final in Vancouver (CAN) on Saturday. Polina Kostiukovich/Dmitri Ialin were edged out of the told by just 1.10 points. Apollinariia Panfilova/Dmitry Rylov claimed the bronze medal.

GPF18 Anastasia MISHINA Aleksandr GALLIAMOV FS 1070206234

Anastasia Mishina/Aleksandr Galliamov (RUS) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Mishina/Galliamov’s performance to “The Master and Margarita” soundtrack was highlighted by a triple twist, throw triple flip and Salchow as well as a triple Salchow-Euler-triple Salchow sequence, a triple toe and level-four lifts, pair combination spin and death spiral. The World Junior bronze medalists picked up 126.26 points for their Free Skating and moved up from third to first on 190.63 points. “We’re satisfied with our performance, we gave 100%. We never think about being on the podium as a goal. We just concentrate on the program, how we skate, what elements we need to work on. We try to do better than practice because the way you skate during practice, that’s how you’re going to perform,” Galliamov noted.

GPF18 Polina KOSTIUKOVICH   Dmitrii IALIN FS 1070206316

Polina Kostiukovich/Dmitri Ialin (RUS) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Kostiukovich/Ialin put out an interesting program to “Xotica”, executing a high triple twist, throw triple loop and Slachow as well as a triple Salchow-Euler-triple Salchow combination and a triple toe. However, their pair combination spin and death spiral were rated a level three which cost them the victory. The World Junior bronze medalists set a new season’s best of 122.69 points and slipped from first to second at 189.53 points. “I think for our debut (at the Final) we skated quite well and we showed that we can fight. We also proved to ourselves that we can skate a clean program,” Ialin said. “We felt good during the program and at the end, but apparently it was not quite enough and the others got a few more points. It just means that we have to work harder to be able to step on to the top of the podium next time,” Kostiukovich added.

GPF18 Polina KOSTIUKOVICH Dmitrii IALIN FS  1070206304

Apollinariia Panfilova/Dmitry Rylov (RUS) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Panfilova/Rylov produced excellent throws and lifts in their routine to the “W.E.” soundtrack by Abel Korzeniowski, but they did not risk a side by side triple jump. The 2017 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalists posted a season’s best with 120.15 points and dropped from second to third on 186.59 points. “I believe that we skated well according to our strengths and capability. We did the best we could. Overall we’re happy with the result and that we are on the podium,” Panfilova commented.

Kseniia Akhanteva/Valerii Kolesov (RUS) remained in fourth place on 172.51 points and Anastasia Poluianova/Dmitry Sopot (RUS) came fifth (158.33 points). The only non-Russian team, Sarah Feng/TJ Newman (USA) had withdrawn due to injury as she sprained her right ankle.