Comeback bronze for Edwards and Pang at world junior championships

SOFIA, Bulgaria – Madeline Edwards of Port Moody, B.C., and ZhaoKai Pang of Burnaby, B.C., won the bronze medal in ice dancing Friday at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean- Luc Baker of the U.S., took the gold with 157.12 points.  They edged Russians
Anna Yanovskaya and Sergey Mozgov in second at 155.16.

Edwards and Pang, fifth after the short program, earned the third best free dance score to climb into the medals with 139.65.

“It was a really emotional free dance,” said Pang. “We didn’t leave anything out. We put it all on the ice and we were really happy with the way we skated.  We were gassed at the end.”

Edwards and Pang were 12th last year at junior worlds

“We could not be more excited with our placement,” said Edwards. “Last year I remember watching the podium at junior worlds and just thinking that we want our flag to be up there and how cool would that be to be on the podium.  And to see that come true was just amazing.”

Mackenzie Bent of Uxbridge, Ont., and Garrett MacKeen of Oshawa, Ont., were 12th.

In women’s competition Alaine Chartrand of Prescott, Ont., eighth at the world juniors last year, is seventh after the short program.  Larkyn Austman of Coquitlam, B.C., the 2013 Canadian junior champion, is 18th.

Russia stands 1-2-3 led by Elena Radionova.

Competition continues Saturday with the men’s free skate.  Nam Nguyen of Toronto is first after Thursday’s short program.

Louis Daignault