Team USA Strikes gold for the fourth time at the World Team Trophy.
The U.S. claimed the 2019 World Team Trophy crown with 117 points in total – its fourth in six appearances at this competition – winning the event by a margin of 13 points over the rest of the field. Japan finished second with 104 points ahead of Russia with 102.
Vanessa James and Morgan Ciprès had a convincing win in the pairs final, earning 152.52 points and 12 points for Team France. Natalia Zabiiako and Alexander Enbert were second with 141.32 points, adding another 11 points second to the Team Russia total. Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro finished third, the highest placement for the Canadian team at this event.
In the ladies discipline, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva captured first place with Sofia Samodurova finishing in fourth. Their results added 21 points to Team Russia’s total.
“It was a great day for us,” said Team Russia captain Nikita Katsalapov. “Our girls proved that they are real fighters and turned in two excellent performances. Our pair gave a great performance, too. Unfortunately, they were second to the French team, but Vanessa James and Morgan Ciprès, were simply the best today. It is a little regrettable that we were not able to move up, the gap was only two points.”
Bradie Tennell secured Team USA’s lead with a second-place finish in the free skate. Mariah Bell placed sixth. They added 19 points to their team total, assuring them of the overall win.
“This was an extremely successful event for Team USA,” said Hubbell, the team captain. “Everyone had beautiful performances including today, the highlight of course being Bradie Tennell’s season’s best, an absolutely great way to finish the event for us.”
It was not the finale the Japanese team was hoping for. Kaori Sakamoto finished third and Rika Kihira, who fell on the triple Axel attempt and later on a triple toe, finished fifth.
“There is no way to describe fully what we felt as it is the end of the season,” team captain Misato Komatsubara said. “We wanted to make sure we are able to finish with a big smile and I think we were able to do that. So I’m very proud of all our skaters and I hope to come back to this competition.”
Team France finished fourth with 75 points ahead of Team Canada (73 points) and Team Italy (69 points).
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