Séguin and Bilodeau stand second after personal best short program at world juniors

TALLIN, Estonia – Canadians Julianne Séguin and Charlie Bilodeau are in second spot after Wednesday’s pairs short program at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

Defending champion Xiaoyu Yu and Yang Jin of China lead with 62.56 points, the Canadians follow at 61.32 – a personal best score – and Lina Fedorova and Maxim Miroshkin of Russia are third at 58.27. The Canadians are undefeated internationally this season winning their three Junior Grand Prix assignments including the Fiinal.

Performing to “The Grand Hotel Budapest” soundtrack, Seguin and Bilodeau landed a well synchronized side by side double Lutz, triple twist and also earned a level four for five elements.

“We reached 60 points and that was a nice goal to achieve”, said Seguin of Longueuil, Que., who joined forces with Bilodeau, from Trois-Pistoles, Que., last season. ‘We want to approach the free skate the same way and not worry about our opponents.’’

Shalena Rau of Waterloo, Ont., and Sébastian Arcieri of Montreal are eighth and Mary Orr of Brantford, Ont., and Phelan Simpson of Lunenberg, N.S., 11th.

In the women’s short program, Selena Zhao of Varennes, Que., and Kim Deguise-Léveillée of Sorel-Tracy, Que., did not crack the top-24 to advance to the free skate.

Competition continues Thursday featuring the pairs final.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/wjc2015/index.htm