JAMIE M. BLANCHARD
Figure Skaters Online
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GREENSBORO, N.C. — Ryan Bradley won his first national title Sunday at the 2011 U.S. Championship in Greensboro, N.C. But the surprises of the afternoon were Richard Dornbush (225.56 points) and rookie Ross Miner (224.35), who out performed 2009 and 2010 U.S. Champion Jeremy Abbott to win the silver and bronze medals.
Abbott was second in the short program, behind Bradley, dropped to fourth overall with a sixth place showing in the free program. He had various problems including a fall on an under rotated triple Lutz. He also under rotated the third jump in his triple loop-double toe-double toe combination.
He finished with 224.16 points to Bradley’s 231.90. Four Continents Champion Adam Rippon, who was one of the favorites coming into Greensboro, finished fifth with 220.04. Armin Mahbanoozadeh (215.05), Brandon Mroz (213.49), Keegan Messing (213.29), Jason Brown (209.76) and Douglas Razzano (206.76) rounded out the top 10.
Bradley, Dornbush and Miner were named to the team for the 2011 World Championships, March 21-27 in Tokyo, Japan. Abbott, Rippon and Mahbanoozadeh will compete at the Four Continents Championships, Feb. 20-25 in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei.
Dornbush, who was 11th in his senior debut at the 2010 U.S. Championships, won the free skate behind a triple Axel-triple toe combination and six other triple jumps. With that, the 2010 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion moved up from seventh place to the silver medal.
Miner finished second the free skate with a triple Lutz-triple toe and six other triples, including a triple Axel-double toe combination. Rippon’s program was shaky in places but ranked third overall. Bradley’s was fourth while Mahbanoozadeh’s “Avatar” routine came in fifth.
Joshua Farris, who was second in the junior men’s competition at last year’s championship but 21st overall in his senior debut, finished last in the free skate with 90.82 after falling on three under rotated triple jumps, two of which were the triple Axel. He later revealed that he broke his ankle in the middle of the program.
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