Mariah Bell is currently in third place after her short program at Nationals. She chose to skate to “Hallelujah” for her free skate to do something different than she is used to. Her and her coach, Adam Rippon, have been working on different choreography and song choices for something new and fresh this season. Every season has been similar for her, but they wanted her to take her skating to the next step this season by changing it up and making her skating more fun.
For this free skate, she opens with a high triple flip, triple toe combination. This jump was high, and she received an extra two points on the jump. Next came her triple loop, which seemed harder for her to land because her air position was tilted. However, she fought hard for the jump and still landed it with an extra point. Moreover, her next element was a combination spin, in which she received a level 4 on. Her next jump pass was an elegant triple sal, and she received an extra point on this too. She then set up for a double axel that she received .61 extra points added to the initial element value. After her step sequence she collected herself so that she would not trip again during it. She took many deep knee bends to make sure she was closer to the ice to get height for her triple flip, double toe, double loop combination. This was landed beautifully, and received an extra 1.44 points. Triple lutz, double toe was her next combination, and she also received an extra 1.77 points for this too. For her flying combination spin, she chose to do a flying sit for a level 4. Finally, her lat jump pass is a triple lutz that looked so effortless for her to achieve! She just landed all of her jumps perfectly in this free skate! Her spiral sequence received an extra 2.5 points, and her final layback spin also received a level 4! This is a clean program for Mariah Bell. That in itself is a great accomplishment for her, especially after the short program with that trip in her step sequence.
The music during this free skate suited Mariah beautifully. She is a strong skater that always has great height to all of her jumps. She is a hardworking skater that always tries her best to give her all in competition. She finally has figured out what works for her. She has found great consistency and grace in her skating with this program. She is confident and the most prepared that she has been to complete this program. She has lightness and sprint to every jump, she takes her time and does not rush through them. She is no longer scared to go into competition, she is now excited to go out there and show everyone what she has been working so hard to achieve.
Her total score from the short program is 73.22, her free skate total is 151.99, and her total score is 225.21. She was currently in first place with this result, however finished in second place due to there being Alysa Lui, who had not skated yet. This is an amazing accomplishment for her, and she should be so incredibly proud of herself.
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