Fil-Am teener runaway winner in figure skating

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino-American teener Zhaira Costiniano became the youngest women’s champion of the National Figure Skating Championships at the SM Mall of Asia International Skating Rink in Pasay City last weekend.

Banking on a seamless long program, Costiniano, was a runaway winner with a total of 121.27 points, counting her front-running tally of 40.73 points in the short program earlier.

The pretty chinky-eyed Immaculate Conception high schooler dethroned defending women’s champ and fellow Fil-Am Mericien Venzon, who was relegated to runner-up honors with 103.2 points. Another Fil-Am, Mary Grace Baldo, was third (93.25).

Chicago-based Fil-Am Maverick Clint Eguia, vying for the first time in the nationals, suffered jitters in performing in front of the local gallery and had a few tumbles in the long program on the way to scoring 118.40 points as the lone entry in the men’s senior division of the meet sponsored by SM and Pepsi.

“I tried my very best and had minor mistakes. I’m so happy that I won,” said Costiniano of the triumph, which was a follow-up to the national juniors’ crown last year.

“I think it was my clean jumps and spins that won it for me,” added Costiniano, who saw action for the country at the World Junior Grand Prix in Turkey early this year.

“I knew I was behind after the short program and just did my best, but we fell short,” said Venzon, 19, a premed student at the University of California-Los Angeles.

She added that she also had a double up in training for the event since she had to commute back to San Francisco on weekends where her home skating rink is.