Lambiel remains on target
 Stephane Lambiel, battling a knee injury, won his qualifiying group at the World Figure Skating Championships. (AP Photo) |
CALGARY, Alberta -- Defending champion Stephane Lambiel shook off a knee injury, an early wake-up call, and the post-Olympic blahs to easily win his qualifying group yesterday at the World Figure Skating Championships.
Qualifying sessions are unique to worlds, and most of the Group A competitors struggled, including American Evan Lysacek. When Lambiel nailed two quadruple jumps, one in combination, the Swiss skater soared past Lysacek with 160.90 points. Lysacek, on medication for a bacterial infection since the Turin Games, was second with 139.70.
''This was a great program," said Lambiel, the silver medalist at Turin.
The other qualifying session, worth a quarter of the total score, was last night, with three-time US champion Johnny Weir and Jeffrey Buttle of Canada the headliners.
