Meissner leads talented field

A few skating friends are trying to crash Emily Hughes’ birthday party.

Hughes, who turns 18 today, said she’s still planning a gathering for Saturday night in Spokane. How she skates earlier that day may affect her mood.

That’s when the Championship Ladies free skate will be held in the Arena at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Hughes hopes to be celebrating a spot on the U.S. world team that day with a top-three finish.

Hughes found out how tough that might be Thursday night before a crowd of 8,010. She is third after a short program that saw fierce competition behind favorite Kimmie Meissner.

Meissner came out focused and skated a clean program to put herself ahead of the field with a score of 65.69. She posted one of five personal bests on this night by the top finishers.

“I’ve been working really hard, and I think tonight I did what I’ve been practicing,” said Meissner, 17, of Bel Air, Md. “I’m very excited, very happy.”

Meissner hit all her jumps and was the only skater in the top four to hit a triple-triple combination, a triple Lutz-triple toe that has a higher value than her competitor’s jumps.

Beebe Liang (62.66) is somewhat of a surprise in second place, though this is her sixth senior nationals at age 18. She has finished fifth in each of the past two nationals, her highest finishes.

“It just felt great, having fun and doing my program,” said Liang. “The crowd was really great and so I was really into the music and just enjoying myself.”

Next in the standings are Hughes (62.32), followed by resurgent Katy Taylor (58.72), and veteran Alissa Czisny (58.15).

Hughes landed her first jump, a triple flip-double toe, and her program seemed to get stronger from there. She was more animated during her program than Meissner and the audience responded, giving her a standing ovation.

“That crowd was amazing,” said Hughes. “That standing ovation is something I wanted to feel again. .. I was just really focused, and relaxed, I think that was important, too.”

She led when she came off the ice, but didn’t have time to enjoy it. Meissner followed her and took over skating next. Hughes heard the crowd’s roar as she began to answer reporters’ questions.

Taylor, 17, of Houston, changed skating boots and personal trainers after last season. She was fourth last year in her second nationals and thinks her struggles made her stronger.

“I’m much more emotional on the ice and I put so much more into my training back home,” said Taylor. “I’m just so excited to be here.”

Czisny wasn’t overwhelming in her effort, but took care of business in the short program. She kept herself in a position to compete Saturday.

The free skate should provide some built-in drama, based on the skating order.

The top four skaters will be last, but this time Hughes will follow Meissner.