Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao (R) won the pair title on October 23 by scoring an overall 166.86 points at Skate America, the first stop in the ISU figure skating Grand Prix at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao won the pairs title on October 23 as the Chinese skaters dominated the event with two teams in the top four at Skate America, the first stop in the ISU figure skating Grand Prix at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dan and Hao, who were third after first day's competition, jumped to the top position by scoring an overall 166.86 points after a nice performance in Saturday's free skate at 109.88 points.

Ding Yang and Ren Zhongfei placed fourth at 139.42 from first day's sixth place. The pair scored 91.44 for fifth in the free skate.

Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov of Russia were runners-up at 166.26 and John Baldwin and Rena Inoue of the United States finished third with 158.10.

Runner-up Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov from Russia, 166.26 points

American Angela Nikodinov won the women's title by posting a total of 149.50 points under the new scoring system officially introduced this year after being tested last season.

Canadian Cynthia Phaneuf finished second and Japan's Miki Ando was third.

Ando fell on a quadruple and a triple jump to tumble from the top spot she held after the short program, finishing sixth in the free skate won by Finland's Susanna Poykio.

That opened the door for Nikodinov, who was second in both the short program and free skate, to claim the title.

Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto became the first American ice dancing pair in 21 years to win back-to-back Skate America titles with an overall of 107.11 points.

Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovsky of Israel earned their second Skate America medal as well at 101.46 by taking the silver.

Canadians Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe finished third at 88.31.

Results of Skate America figure skating Grand Prix for pairs

Bronze medallists Rena Inoue and John Baldwin Jr.from the United States, 158.10 points.

Following are pairs results of Skate America, the first event in the ISU Grand Prix at Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania Saturday, the third and last day of the competition:

Free skate:

1. Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang, China, 109.88

2. Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov, Russia, 108.68

3. Rena Inoue and John Baldwin Jr., United States, 101.58

4. Elizabeth Putnam and Sean Wirtz, Canada, 91.50

5. Yang Ding and Zhongfei Ren, China, 91.44

6. Kathryn Orscher and Garrett Lucash, United States, 85.56

7. Jennifer Don and Jonathon hunt, United States, 74.28

8. Julia Shapiro and Vadim Akolzin, Israel, 59.38

Final standings:

1. Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang, China, 166.86

2. Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov, Russia, 166.26

3. Rena Inoue and John Baldwin Jr., United States, 158.10

4. Yang Ding and Zhongfei Ren, China, 139.42

5. Elizabeth Putnam and Sean Wirtz, Canada, 136.88

6. Kathryn Orscher and Garrett Lucash, United States, 129.32

7. Jennifer Don and Jonathon Hunt, United States, 125.28

8. Julia Shapiro and Vadim Akolzin, Israel, 100.74

9. Tatiana Totmianina and Mxim Marinin, Russia, 85.14. Withdrawn.

Source: Xinhua