January 2 , 2002
CBC SPORTS ONLINE -
Jennifer Robinson moved closer to
a berth at the Winter Olympics by finishing first in her
qualification round at the Canadian figure skating championships
in Hamilton, Ont., on Monday.
Hoping to capture her fifth
national title and the country's lone women's singles berth
in the Salt Lake City Games, Robinson was judged best in
the first of two qualifying groups.
Annie Bellemare of St-Eustache,
Que., placed second and Nadine Gosselin of Pont-Rouge, Que.,
finished third.
Robinson fell on a triple Lutz
and again on a triple loop during her free-skating presentation,
but didn't appear discouraged.
"It wasn't bad," she
told The Canadian Press about her performance. "The
whole thing was a bit of a battle for me. I've battled some
demons in this rink in the past. It's not one of the my
favourite rinks. But there are three steps to the week and
we've finished one."
The 1993 and 1998 nationals were
held at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, and both were painful
experiences for Robinson. She finished 11th in the junior
division nine years ago, and wound up third in the senior
class four years ago.
Robinson was one of several skaters
to stumble Monday.
Bellemare, who won the bronze
medal at the nationals last winter, fell on her triple Salchow
attempt, and Gosselin fell twice. She finished fifth overall
the last two years.
The winner of the other qualification
group, Joannie Rochette of Ile Dupas, Que., fell on a triple
Salchow and again on a triple toe loop. However, she landed
six triple jumps, one more than Robinson.
Marianne Dubuc of Princeville,
Que., finished second in that group and Nicole Watt of Melfort,
Sask., placed third.
Twelve women advanced from each
of the two 21-skater groups. The qualifying segment is worth
20 per cent of the total mark.
The women present their short
programs Friday and free-skating programs again on Saturday.
The schedule Tuesday consists
of two men's qualifying sessions.
reprinted with permission
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