SOFIA FRANK wound up 16th among 49 participants in the International Skating Union (ISU) Junior Grand Prix at the Hala Olivia rink in Gdańsk, Poland, to qualify for next year’s Junior World Figure Skating Championships.
Frank, 16, obtained 142.75 points in the short program and free skate to earn the minimum technical requirement score for the world the championships.
“It was pretty important because I needed to get my points for the Junior Worlds, so this is the only competition that I have left for me, my only chance,” the Filipino-American Frank who’s based in Colorado Springs told BusinessMirror Sunday via internet call.
“We wouldn’t be in the Junior World if we didn’t pursue it. I am really happy that I made it,” she said. “All I have to do now is to prepare wisely and try to break into the top 10 there. I really need to work on my components.”
Japan’s Shimada Mao and Chiba Mone finished 1-2 with Mao scoring 217.68 points she highlighted with a triple axel and quad toe loop. Mone had 205.82 points. South Korea’s Kim Chaeyeon bagged the bronze medal a 195.46 score.
Sofia, daughter of former beauty Queen Preciosa Tongko-Frank, used “Jump” by the Pointer Sisters in her short program routine and “Moulin Rouge” for the free skate in the competition played September 28 to October 1.