Rochette takes spotlight at Skate Canada

OTTAWA – Canadian Joannie Rochette won the women’s short program at Skate Canada on Friday.

The 22-year-old Rochette had a personal-best score of 64.74 points, unveiling a new routine to George Gershwin’s “Summertime.”

“I was just glad with the score I had, because we can say, ‘Mission accomplished,’ ” Rochette said. “It’s one thing when people around you tell you it’s better, but it’s another to see it reflected in the marks, and we were so lucky with that.”

Fumie Suguri of Japan was second with 57.92 and Caroline Zhang of the United States was third at 53.28.

Bebe Liang was fifth and Alissa Czisny sixth among other American women.

In the men’s competition, Yannick Ponsero of France scored a 78.05 to win the short program. Canadian Patrick Chan was second with 77.47 points, and American Ryan Bradley was third with 72.50.

Evan Lysacek, a two-time world championship bronze medalist and a heavy favorite here, botched a jump combination to wind up fourth with 71.40.

Earlier, Russia’s Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov took the pairs short program with 65.02 points. American champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker were second at 60.66, followed by Canadians Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison at 60.14.