Chen dominates in winning fifth U.S. figure skating title
Even with an error at the beginning of his free skate, Nathan Chen was unbeatable Sunday, winning his fifth straight U.S. Figure Skating Championship.
Not since Dick Button won each title from 1946-52 has any American man had such a streak of success. Throw in two world championships and being unbeaten since not medaling at the 2018 Olympics, and Chen already has a resume for the ages. At age 21.
“It’s incredible to try to follow in his footsteps,” Chen said of Button, a two-time Olympic winner.
Chen pretty much ignored the rough beginning of his free skate, when he put his hands down and stepped out of a quad lutz. He hit four more quads, three in combination, and a triple axel deep into his program. There was a fluidity to his choreography and spins, and his 322.28 points were unmatchable by anybody in the field in Las Vegas.
His main challengers couldn’t stand up throughout their free skates, and Vincent Chou’s 291.38 total wasn’t in the same stratosphere as Chen. Chou, from Palo Alto, popped a quad flip and fell on a quad lutz, but the 2018 Olympian still held on to second place.
Jason Brown, the final competitor at these fan-less nationals at the Orleans Arena — they were moved from San Jose, California, due to the COVID-19 pandemic — stayed in third place at 276.92 points.
Other winners at nationals, which could be the last significant competition of the season should worlds in March at Stockholm be canceled for the second straight year, were: Bradie Tennell with her second women’s title; Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue for their third ice dance championship; and Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier in pairs.
Knierim had won two titles with husband Chris, who retired before this season, and Frazier had earned on with previous partner Haven Denney.
Men’s college basketball
GARZA, NO. 5 IOWA ROLL >> Luka Garza had 17 points and 10 rebounds in just 24 minutes, and No. 5 Iowa rolled to a 96-73 victory over host Northwestern. The Hawkeyes (12-2, 6-1 Big Ten) won their fifth straight. Pete Nance had 16 points for Northwestern (6-6, 3-5), which has lost five in a row.
NEBRASKA PAUSES >> Nebraska will pause for at least seven more days after coach Fred Hoiberg and 11 other staffers or players tested positive for COVID-19.
The Cornhuskers’ home game against Minnesota on Wednesday and game at Iowa next Sunday have been postponed. Hoiberg said he tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday and began self-isolating. VRANKIC LEADS SANTA CLARA PAST SAN DIEGO >> Josip Vrankic scored 15 points with 12 rebounds as visiting Santa Clara held off San Diego 6963. Guglielmo Caruso added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Broncos (83, 2-1 WCC).
Vladimir Pinchuk had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Toreros (15, 0-2). San Diego had not played, or even held five-on-five practices, since Dec. 31, and was playing just its second home game of the season.
Women’s college basketball
CAL POSTPONES FIVE GAMES >> Because of COVID-19 developments within the Cal program, the team was forced to postpone five games, starting with Sunday’s scheduled contest at home against Utah.
The next four games against USC, UCLA, Washington and Washington State have also been postponed. Cal’s next scheduled game to be played is Feb. 5 against Utah.
NO. 11 ARIZONA 67, OREGON STATE 51 >> Helena Pueyo reached a career-high in scoring by halftime with 15 points, Aari McDonald extended her string of double-digit scoring to 78 games with 20 points, and the No. 11 Wildcats (10-2, 8-2 Pac-12)thumped the Beavers (3-4, 1-4).
Arizona’s roster was bolstered over the weekend when Madi Conner, who graduated a semester early from high school, was granted eligibility. Conner did not play Sunday as she is following COVID-19 protocols.
LOUISVILLE TOPS FLORIDA STATE, COULDMOVETONO.1>> Kianna Smith scored 16 points to lead No. 2 Louisville to an 84-56 victory over Florida State. The win by the Cardinals (12-0, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) coupled by top-ranked Stanford’s loss at Colorado may likely give Louisville its first No. 1 ranking in program history when the new poll comes out today.
Golf
NA HAS BIG FINISH TO WIN SONY OPEN
>> Three shots behind after a bogey at 12, Kevin Na birdied four of his final six holes for a 5-under 65 and a one-shot victory in the Sony Open in Honolulu. Na made birdie putts of 15, 10 and 6 feet, then wrapped it up with an up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 closing hole at Waialae. He finished at 21-under 259, a shot better than Joaquin Niemann and Chris Kirk.
Kirk (65) stepped away from golf in May 2019 citing alcoholism and depression, a move that is paying off. He was given a medical extension to make up for lost time, and this was the final event for him to regain full status. Needing nearly 150 FedEx Cup points at the Sony Open, his tie for second was worth 245 points.
Tennis
CORNET APOLOGIZES FOR ‘TACTLESS’ REMARKS ON AUSTRALIAN QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS >> Alize Cornet apologized after many social media users hit out at the Frenchwoman for criticizing the country’s strict COVID-19 quarantine protocols ahead of next month’s Australian Open.
Seventy-two players and their entourages have to isolate for two weeks and cannot leave their hotel rooms in Melbourne to train after infections were reported on three flights ferrying players.
Cornet said the situation was “insane” because weeks of training was “going to waste” but was quickly reminded that she was better off than many Victorian residents who endured worse as authorities looked to curb the spread of the virus.
“After my last (deleted) tweet I feel like I need to apologize to you Australian people,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Your reaction to this tactless comment made me realize what you’ve been through last year and how much you suffered. I guess I feel a bit anxious about all this and I better have shut my mouth.”
The year’s first Grand Slam is scheduled to begin on Feb. 8, which will give quarantined players only one week of practice to get into shape.
Sailing
U.S. TEAM SURE OF CONTINUING IN AMERICA’S CUP AFTER CAPSIZE >> American Magic’s hopes of challenging Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup were dealt a blow when their yacht “Patriot” capsized on Sunday (New Zealand time), but the U.S. team said its is confident of getting back on the water for the semifinals later this month.
American Magic were denied their first points of the Challenger Series when their vessel went airborne and hit the water before falling on its side after encountering a massive gust of wind while leading Luna Rossa in Auckland, New Zealand.
Skipper Terry Hutchinson said on Monday the team would use parts from their back-up boat “Defiant,” with the main challenge being repairs to the electronic system as the hydraulic piping did not sustain too much damage.
The semifinals begin Jan. 29. The crew escaped major injuries.