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Associated Press 18y

Vlassov and Meekins take gold in 1-2 U.S. finish in pairs at junior figure skating worlds

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - Julia Vlassov and Drew Meekins won the pairs competition at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships on Wednesday, the first time since 1997 that a U.S. pair took gold in the event.

Reigning U.S. junior champions Kendra Moyle and Andy Seitz won silver, while Ksenia Krasilnokova and Konstantin Bezmaternikh of Russia settled for the bronze.

The victory for Vlassov and Meekins breaks a two-year winning streak by Russian skaters. Siblings Danielle and Steve Hartsell last were last Americans to win gold at the juniors in 1997 in Seoul, South Korea.

One of the most experienced couples at the worlds, Vlassov and Meekins were fourth after the short program. However, they put together a dazzling display in the free skate with thrilling throws, lifts and jumps.

The two excelled particularly in the triple loop and the triple salchow, as well as a combination of foot and spin sequences.

They scored a personal best of 138.05 points.

"I told Julia before coming into the free skating that regardless of being fourth, we should try the same - a good, clean program - despite our placement," Meekins said.

Vlassov and Meekins took silver at the 2005 Junior Grand Prix Final and were third at the 2006 junior U.S. championships.

"We didn't really expect anything," Vlassov said. "We just wanted to place better than ninth, what we did before. We're so excited about winning though."

Moyle and Seitz, who are skating in their first year together, also set a personal best of 133.50 points. They were the surprise leaders after the short program, but made too many errors in the free program to hold onto first place.

The junior worlds continue Thursday with the highlight of the championship - the women's free skate. Mao Asada of Japan will try to defend her world title against Kim Yu-na of South Korea.

Asada, who said she might try a quadruple jump coming into the championship, was expected to do a double triple jump to nudge Kim out of the lead after the short program.

Asada landed a triple axel at the junior Grand Prix finals in December 2004 at Helsinki, Finland, becoming the first junior woman to do one in an international event.

She also was the first to land two triple axels in a program when she did it at the Japanese championships in late December.

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