The last time Kirsten Olson of Savage visited Xcel Energy Center, she quietly slipped down to the rink after watching a skating show and touched the ice. "I made a promise to myself that I would be here for nationals," she said. "I knew I could do it."
Olson did make it, and Sunday, she finished seventh in the junior women's short program to help kick off the U.S. championships. Olson landed a triple toe-triple toe combination and a double axel but fell on a triple loop -- the last jump of her "Schindler's List" program -- to earn a score of 46.56 points. Angela Maxwell won the short program with 54.91 points.
"I wanted to improve from last year, which I already have," said Olson, who was ninth in the junior women's competition at nationals in 2007. "I didn't feel nervous at all. I felt really good skating in Xcel."
Coach Rohene Ward said Olson will be more aggressive in Tuesday's free skate because of her mistakes in the short program. Sunday, he urged her not to lose sight of the uniqueness of skating for a national title in her home state. An army of friends was on hand and applauded her performance.
"I told her they were all here to watch her," Ward said. "A moment like this will probably never happen again. Enjoy it."
RACHEL BLOUNT
