Junior Grand Prix Newcomer Farrington Captures Bronze in Azerbaijan
Caleb Farrington brought his A-game at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series event in Baku, Azerbaijan, securing his first JGP medal with an outstanding bronze finish from September 23-26. This marked a notable achievement for the Newark, Delaware native, who was the single U.S. Junior National Team athlete to qualify for the podium at this competition held at the Heydar Aliyev Sports & Concert Complex.
Farrington delivered a mesmerizing free skate performance, timing his routine to the captivating music from the Fantastic Beasts series composed by James Howard Newton. His presentation was rewarded with a personal best score of 139.83 points for the free program. Standing out among 22 competitors, he impressively landed the only quad and earned 11.54 points for his toe loop jump. Adding onto his success, a triple Lutz-double Axel-double toe loop combination netted him an extra 10.62 points, all enhanced by Level 4 spins that showcased his technical proficiency.
In the short program, Farrington also set a new personal benchmark with 70.83 points while performing to Otoño Porteño by Ástor Piazzolla. With every element receiving at least neutral or positive grades of execution, his highlight was a remarkable triple Lutz-triple toe, which generated a whopping 12.29 points—the highest individual score among competitors.
Caleb ended the competition with a cumulative score of 210.66 points, significantly surpassing his previous personal best by over 41 points.
Meanwhile, reigning U.S. junior bronze medalist Patrick Blackwell continued his momentum, securing second place in the short program with a stellar performance of Uprising by Muse, featuring a strong triple Axel rewarded with 10.40 points. However, Blackwell faltered during the free skate, ultimately dropping to sixth place with a final score of 193.15 points.
Ice dancers Jane Calhoun and Mark Zheltyshev had an impressive Junior Grand Prix debut, placing fourth in both segments and earning a fifth overall with a total of 140.68 points. Their twizzles scored an considerable 8.54 points.
Overall, this Junior Grand Prix weekend showcased remarkable talent as the skaters pushed their performances to new heights, setting the stage for thrilling competitions ahead.
