Americans Hawayek, Baker win ice dance gold at NHK Trophy

Posted November 11, 2018 6:00 am

The Associated Press

From left, gold medalist Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean Luc Baker of the United States and bronze medalist Rachel Parsons and Michael Parsons of the United States pose for photo during an awarding ceremony at the NHK Trophy figure skating ice dance event in Hiroshima, western Japan, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) The Associated Press

HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) - Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker of the United States overtook leaders Tiffani Zagorski and Jonathan Guerreiro of Russia to win the ice dance gold at NHK Trophy on Sunday.

The 2018 Four Continents champions won the free dance with 113.92 points for a total of 184.63 to move up to first place and take the first Grand Prix medal of their career after a handful of near misses.

The bronze went to Rachel Parsons and Michael Parsons of the United States.

"Our main goal was really to try to put out two solid performances, but also to understand our programs," Baker said. "It is our first event. We really just wanted to get our feet wet. We're very happy that we're walking away with the gold medal."

The pair will compete again in two weeks in Grenoble, France at the last event of the Grand Prix series and has a chance at making the Dec. 6-9 Grand Prix Final in Vancouver, Canada.

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Tiffani Zagorski and Jonathan Guerreiro of Russia perform their free program during the ice dance competition at the NHK Trophy Figure Skating in Hiroshima, Western Japan, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) The Associated Press

Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean Luc Baker of the United States perform their free program during the ice dance competition at the NHK Trophy Figure Skating in Hiroshima, Western Japan, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) The Associated Press

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