Philippine representatives Edrian Celestino and Sofia Frank may have missed the cut for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, but their technical scores allowed them to qualify for another meet–the Four Continents Championships.
The 23-year-old Celestino settled for an 18th place overall finish in the men’s singles, while Frank made it as far as 24th spot in the women’s side of the 2021 Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany.
Celestino, who is based on Montreal, Canada, scored a total of 176.10 points after his routine in the free skates, which is the last of the two-part competition
He collected 111.78 points, with 47.86 in the technical score and 63.92 in the program components, after Celestino did his routines to the tune of “You & Me” by Aron Wright.
Qualifiers needed to have a minimum technical score of 28.00 in the short program and 46.00 in the free skate to earn a seat in the Four Continents.
During the short program on Thursday, Celestino got 32.69 points in the technical score, finishing at 16th place.
The Four Continents Championship was originally set for January 2022 in Tianjin, China, but was called off due to travel restrictions.
Meanwhile, Sofia Frank ended up 24th overall in the women’s action, after coming up with total of 128.78.
Performing to tune of of “Romeo and Juliet Wedding Vow” by Abel Korzeniowski, Frank checked in with 40.50 points off her technical scores and 44.63 in the program components.
Performers needed to have a minimum technical score of 23.00 in the short program and 40.00 in the free skate to reach qualification for the Four Continents.
Earlier, Frank got 25.42 points in the technical score to take 22nd in the short program.
\Overall, Vincent Zhou of the United States secured another Beijing 2022 quota spot for the United States after winning the men’s competition to join early entries Nathan Chen and Jason Brown.
\France’s Adam Siao Him Fa rose to second with 284.23 in his free skating routine to finish ahead of Russia’s Mark Kondratiuk, who took third with 241.06.
\Teenager Alysa Liu, who led a 1-2-3 finish for the US in women action, won the free skates title with a winning score of 207.40.
\Poland’s Ekaterina Kurakova rose from sixth to second after a superb free skating routine, finishing on 193.58 to secure a Beijing 2022 berth for her country.
\Viktoriia Safonova clinched third spot with 190.29 to seal a place for Belarus at the Games.
A total of 20 quota places were up for grabs at the event, including seven in the men’s, six in the women’s, three in pair skating and four in ice dance.
