NFA star says injury, illness hurt training

Times Herald-Record

Published: 2:00 AM - 12/29/10
Last updated: 5:50 PM - 12/29/10

Newburgh Free Academy senior Ksenia Makarova was unable to defend her Russian women's figure skating crown and settled for fifth place following a disappointing free skate program on Tuesday in Saransk.

Her consolation will be an invitation to represent her homeland at the upcoming European and world championships.

Skating next to last to the music of "Evita," Makarova fell coming out of a flip landing and slipped off her skate's edge heading into a Salchow, a jump with a takeoff from a back inside edge of one foot.

Makarova was given credit for four triple jumps, and posted a free skate score of 109.75, the sixth-highest on the afternoon. Her two-day score was 173.91.

"I cannot explain what happened today,'' Makarova said. "True, I do not know. I'm tired, I guess. I recently had an injury, then I got sick. Because of this, in training I did not get so many skates.''

Makarova suffered an Achilles' tendon injury this fall, said coach Viktor Petrenko.

Makarova, 18, will still represent Russia at the European and world championships because three of the top-five finishers in the Russian championships have not reached the age limit of 16 imposed by the International Skating Union.

The European finals are Jan. 24-30 in Bern, Switzerland. The World finals are Feb. 15-20 in Taipei City, Taiwan.

Makarova led the field of 16 skaters following Monday's short program with a score of 64.16.

Adelina Sotnikova, 14, added the 2011 title to her 2009 crown. She won the championship with a score of 197.44. Alena Leonva — like Makarova, a 2010 Vancouver Olympian — earned her second Russian silver medal with a score of 187.68, posting a strong 127.54 in the free skate. Elizabeth Tuktamysheva, 14, climbed four spots to place third with an overall score of 180.71. Julia Lipnitskaya, 12, placed fifth with a 176.27.

Sotnikova joins a list of multiple Russian champs that includes 1999 world champ Maria Butyrskaya (1993, 1995-99), two-time world champ Irina Slutskaya (2002-03, 2005), 2003 world silver medalist Elenea Sokolova (2003-04, 2006) and Ksenia Doronina (2007-08).

Makarova opened the international skating season with a second-place finish at Skate Canada. She followed with a seventh-place effort at the Cup of Russia.

Last season, Makarova placed ninth at the European championships, 10th at the Vancouver Olympics and eighth at the world championships.

kmcmillan@th-record.com