Leaders Yamaguchi, Browning ignore distractions

Copyright 1997 the Associated Press. -- All Rights Reserved

A flower on the ice didn't deter Kristi Yamaguchi. A week of juggling routines didn't deter Kurt Browning.

Defending champions Yamaguchi and Browning ignored the distractions and are in the lead going into tonight's artistic programs at the World Professional Figure Skating Championships.

In her technical routine Friday night, Yamaguchi overwhelmed the women's field as she kissed her way through a medley of Louis Armstrong recordings, including ''A Kiss to Build a Dream On,'' ''Kiss of Fire'' and ''It's Been a Long, Long Time.''

The 1992 Olympic champion and three-time world pro champion had completed the third of her four triple jumps no other women landed more than two when one fan thought the routine was over and threw some roses onto the ice.

''It probably calmed me down a little bit,'' said Yamaguchi, who didn't stop her routine but had to alter it slightly. ''I was like 'Oh, well.' I had to cut in a little bit to avoid the flowers and a wet spot on the ice.''

Yamaguchi's only significant stumble was an extra step between a triple flip and a double toe loop. She scored 99.0 points out of a possible 100.

''Traditionally I've always done something classical for the technical program,'' Yamaguchi said. ''After five years, we decided to do something a little more lighthearted.''

Two-time defending champion Browning edged Rudy Galindo to take the lead in the men's competition. Browning landed three triples and earned 9.9 artistic scores across the board as he skated to ''Antares'' by The Tragically Hip.

''Due to a series of injuries and events and trouble and blah, blah, blah, I don't have very many numbers this year,'' Browning said. ''So we've been juggling numbers a bit since we've arrived.''

For tonight's artistic program, Browning will reprise his funky rendition of the Commodores' ''Brick House'' the same routine he used to win the title here two years ago.

In the pairs, Radka Kovarikova and Rene Novotny lead after the technical program, while Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur top the dance.

Ekaterina Gordeeva, in one of her best performances since becoming a singles skater, performed a warm but technically less demanding routine to ''Smile'' to place second behind Yamaguchi with 97.5 points.

Nancy Kerrigan and Denise Biellmann tied for third, ahead of Josee Chouinard and Oksana Baiul, who seemed close to tears as she took to the ice for her first major competition since an automobile accident in January.

Baiul skated slowly and had trouble virtually every time she attempted a jump, yet managed a smile at the end. She was unavailable for comment afterward.

''She did seem upset,'' Yamaguchi said. ''But I don't know what had happened.''

Galindo, wearing shiny and metallic silver pants, gyrated his way to second place behind Browning with a routine to Billy Idol's ''Dancing With Myself.'' Galindo was sharper on his jumps, but was beaten out by Browning in the artistic marks.

Six-time champion Brian Boitano, who wobbled between two different combination jumps, was third, ahead of Victor Petrenko and Eric Millot.

Kovarikova and Novotna scored from 9.7 to 9.9 for a classical, flirtatious program to ''Un Sospiro.'' Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler placed second, and Elena Leonova and Andrei Khvalko third. Defending champions Elena Bechke and Denis Petrov withdrew because of Bechke's nagging groin injury.

The only 10s of the night were in the dance competition. Four went to to Roca and Sur for their dramatically romantic routine to Neil Diamond's ''If You Go Away.'' Maia Usova and Alexander Zhulin received one 10 and placed second, well ahead of Amy Webster and Ron Kravette third.

This is the first time the event has been held over two nights, which may take some getting used to. After years of sellout crowds at US Airways Arena in the suburbs, only 11,540 came Friday night to the new downtown, 20,000-seat MCI Center.