Duhamel, Buntin stand third after pairs short program

Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Craig Buntin of Kelowna, B.C., are in medal contention after finishing Friday’s short program in third place at the Skate America event in Lake Placid, N.Y., the fifth stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Two-time world champions Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China skated first and produced a season-best 74.36 points for first spot. Tatiana Volosozhar and Stanislav Morozov of Ukraine were second at 61.70 and Duhamel and Buntin followed at 59.64, also a season-best.

Duhamel and Buntin are vying to better their fourth-place finish from two weeks ago in China.

“We were all very pleased with the performance,” said Duhamel and Buntin’s coach, Richard Gauthier. “The practices were strong all week and now they feel they are headed in the right direction. Tonight they not only executed the elements but the whole program came together and it showed in the results.”

Meanwhile, Shawn Sawyer of Edmunston, N.B., sits fifth in men’s singles after the short program and less than six points out of a podium position. Evan Lysacek of the U.S., is first, Florant Amidio of France second and Brandon Mroz of the U.S., third. Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., stands 10th.

The long programs in pairs and men’s singles are both Saturday.