Bad Start for Cohen at Juniors

At the U.S. Senior National Championships in Cleveland last month, Sasha Cohen skated a near-perfect short program.

She landed her required jumps with ease and performed other elements with such grace that she received a standing ovation and a first-place position, even defeating America’s champion, Michelle Kwan.

Friday in Oberstdorf, Germany, at the Junior World Championships, Cohen--performing a technically easier program--finished a disappointing ninth after falling on her triple lutz and then losing her edge and her landing on the double axel.

Cohen, a 15-year-old from Laguna Niguel who surprisingly won a silver medal at the Senior Nationals last month, toppled to seventh place overall at the Junior Worlds with only today’s long program to go.

Because of age-restriction rules, Cohen can join Kwan and Sarah Hughes, the bronze medalist at nationals, at the Senior World Championships in Nice, France, on March 26 only by winning a medal in Germany.

Deanna Stellato, 16, from Glenview, Ill., leads the competition and Jennifer Kirk, 15, from Newton, Mass., is second with Sarah Meier of Switzerland third.

Stellato finished ninth at the U.S. nationals and Kirk seventh. Neither is eligible for the Senior World Championships.

Angela Nikodinov of San Pedro will join Kwan and Hughes at worlds unless Cohen makes a huge comeback. Nikodinov finished fourth at nationals.