Kim leads Skate America sweep

EVERETT, Wash. – South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na led an Asian sweep at Skate America, winning the title in a runaway Sunday over Japan’s Yukari Nakano and Miki Ando.

With a lead of nearly 12 points entering the free skate, Kim, 18, added to her substantial cushion, ending with a total of 193.45. Nakano, 23, won silver with a score of 172.53, and Ando, the 2007 world champion, took bronze with 168.42.

“I was a bit nervous,” said Kim, last year’s world bronze medalist and a two-time Grand Prix champion. “But when I thought the program was a practice, I was able to pull through.”

Nakano started the day in third place, but moved ahead of countrywoman Ando with a nearly flawless program that featured five triples and beautiful spins.

Considering the world championship-caliber Skate America field, Kim has to be considered an early favorite for the 2010 Olympics in nearby Vancouver. She’ll have strong competition from the Japanese.

No Americans made the podium, with Rachael Flatt finishing fourth.

Americans Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto won Sunday’s free dance segment, but it wasn’t enough to unseat France’s Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder for the ice dance title at Skate America.

Delobel and Schoenfelder, the reigning world champions, finished with 187.64 points, edging Belbin and Agosto with 186.53. Great Britain’s sister-brother duo of Sinead and John Kerr were third with 180.20.