March 7, 2003

The Miami University senior synchronized skating team is in second place, behind the Haydenettes, after skating a clean short program at the U.S. Championships last night. The RedHawks received nine second-place ordinals as they have put themselves in striking distance of the Haydenettes and a possible World Championship appearance.

Trailing the Haydenettes and Miami in third place are the Crystallettes, while Team Elan and Michigan are in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Miami University is in second place after a solid program of its own. The team's no-hold block incorporated fast turns and steps, and the skaters held the spacing well.

"It was great," coach Vicki Korn said. "The team skated well. They were on and they were prepared."

Korn is especially excited to showcase the team's new free skate, choreographed by well-known singles choreographer Sarah Kawahara. It was Kawahara's first time working with a synchronized team. The program is based around a "fire and ice" theme.

"It was interesting to bring in someone of that caliber," Korn said. "We're trying to move the sport forward. It was a good collaboration."

In Saturday's free skate, fans will see the complete package of the "fire and ice" free skate. Korn said they had problems with the costumes and had to wear different ones at Midwestern Sectionals. They wore the new costumes for the first time at the Neuchatel Trophy two weeks ago.

The long program portion of the competition is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 8. The top two finishers at the U.S. Championships will earn the right to compete at the World Championships held next month in Ottawa, Ontario, on April 3-6.