Radionova, Chen highlight field at JGP Austria (09/12/2012)

Radionova, Chen highlight field at JGP Austria

Russian looking for second gold of series; U.S. junior champ making JGP debut

Nathan Chen makes his long-awaited Junior Grand Prix debut in Linz, Austria. (Tom Briglia)

(09/12/2012) - A strong field of international competitors, including the gold medalists in ladies and dance at Junior Grand Prix France, takes the ice at JGP Austria in Linz.

Thirteen-year-old Elena Radionova of Russia and French ice dancers Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France will compete for the second time this season after winning gold last month at 2012 JGP France. The event is the second of four in the series to include a pairs competition.

Men

Ryuju Hino of Japan comes off a bronze-medal finish at JGP France. Hino's free skate there included the highest-scoring element of the competition, a triple Axel-triple toe loop combination, which earned 14.17 points. Also competing is Hino's teammate Sei Kawahara and Viktor Romanenkov of Estonia. Both men earned personal-best scores and placed sixth in the 2011 JGP series, Kawahara at JGP Latvia and Romanenkov at JGP Estonia. Also hoping for a spot on the podium is American Nathan Chen, who won the 2010 U.S. novice title when he was just 10 years old. Chen is the reigning U.S. junior champion, and will make his JGP debut in Linz.