Wagner leads US one-two at Skate America

LOS ANGELES (AFP) –

Ashley Wagner skates in the ladies free skate during the Skate America competition at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. Wagner wrapped up a triumphant Skate America debut Sunday as she led a US one-two finish in the ladies’ competition Sunday at the first Grand Prix of the season at Kent, Washington.

Ashley Wagner wrapped up a triumphant Skate America debut Sunday as she led a US one-two finish in the ladies’ competition Sunday at the first Grand Prix of the season at Kent, Washington.

Wagner, who led after Saturday’s short programme, also topped the final free skate to win with a total of 188.37 points.

American Christina Gao delivered a delightful free skate to move into second with a total of 174.25 points, while Russia’s Adelina Sotnikova, who was lying second after the short programme, fell in her free skate and settled for third with 168.96 points.

The always elegant Meryl Davis and Charlie White made it an all-American celebration as they won their third straight Skate America ice dance title.

Skating to music from “Notre Dame de Paris,” Davis and White had a total of 176.28 points.

Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia were second and Canada’s Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje were third.

The event was the first of six stops on the Grand Prix tour in a season that has skaters already looking ahead to the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Grand Prix final will be held in December in Sochi, Russia, host city in 2014.