West Caldwell Girl, 11, Captures Gold in National Roller Skating Event

Gillian Muldoon, 11, from West Caldwell, recently captured a gold medal in the Elementary B Girls Combined Figures & Loops event and a silver medal in the Elementary B Girls Figure event at the 2014 USA Roller Sports Figure Skating National Championships held at the Pershing Center in Lincoln, Neb.

Gillian skated the Elementary B Girls Figure elimination against 23 other skaters on Friday, July 25 and qualified to skate the final holding first place. She skated the next day in the Elementary B Girls Loops elimination against 13 other skaters and qualified to skate the final holding third place. The finals for both events were skated on Sunday, July 27. Although she slipped out of medal contention in finals for the loop event, her scores were high enough to secure a gold medal in the Elementary B Girls Combined Figures & Loops event and a silver medal in Elementary B Girls Figures. Gillian also competes in freeskating events. She has been skating for 4 years and this is her 3rd trip to Nationals. She was a gold medalist in her first trip to the US National Championships in 2012.

In addition to the medals won by Muldoon, Florham Park Figure Skating Club had 3 additional skaters who were finalists at the 2014 National Championships.

Michaela Muldoon, age 16 from West Caldwell, secured a place in the finals in Freshman/Sophomore B Girls Freeskating event. Michaela skated the elimination against 23 other skaters on Friday July 25th and qualified to skate the final which was skated on Saturday July 26th. Michaela finished 6th in the final overall. Michaela also skates figure events. This was Michaela’s 3rd trip to the National Championships.

Elinor Dowd, age 15 of Blairstown, secured a place in the finals in Freshman A Girls Freeskating. Elinor skated the elimination against 12 other skaters on Monday July 21st and qualified to skate the final which was held on Tuesday July 22nd. Elinor finished 4th in the final overall just out of medal contention. This was Elinor’s 6h trip to the National Championships. Elinor was a gold medalist at the 2012 National Championships.

Cornelia Hetherington, age 9 of Maplewood, qualified for finals in the Juvenile B Girls Figures event on Friday July 25th skating against 28 other girls. She skated the final on Sunday July 27th securing a 4th place finish just out of medal contention. Cornelia also skates freeskating events. This was Cornelia’s 3rd trip to Nationals.

There were seven skaters from the Florham Park Figure skating club qualified to compete at the National Championships during the Eastern Region Championships which was held on June 21 and 22 at the Holiday Skating Center in Delanco. New Jersey is part of the Eastern Region of USA Roller Sports which includes Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

The skaters represent Florham Park Figure Skating Club that practice at Florham Park Roller Rink. The Skaters are coached by Scott Bartell in compulsory figures and loops, events where skaters trace a series of circles painted on the skating surface combining a variety of difficult take offs, edges and turns.

The skaters are also coached by Kristen Taylor in Freeskating. Freeskating skating includes jumps, spins, footwork and complicated choreography.

This year’s National Championships were named “The Last Dance at Pershing” since it is reported to be the final time the Championships will be held at the Pershing Center in Lincoln. Lincoln, NE is also the home to the national office of USA Roller Sports. The National Championships have been held in at the Pershing Center in Lincoln 27 times since the first was held in 1962.

The 2015 National Championships will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico between July 11- August 1, 2015.

Roller Figure Skaters enter events in one or more categories – Freeskating (Singles & Pairs), Figures, Loops, Solo Dance, Team Dance, Precision, or Show skating. They are judged on content and manner of performance. This includes the skater’s ability to trace a series of circles painted on the skating surface combining a variety of difficult take offs, edges and turns in figures and to do identifiable, difficult content items, like jumps, spins, and footwork, while utilizing those movements in an artistic interpretation of accompanying music for freeskating. Skaters may choose to skate in a variety of categories or concentrate on only one.

While not an Olympic sport, roller figure skating does compete up to a World Class Level. The 2014 World Championships will be held in Reus, Spain from Sept. 28 to Oct. 12. The 2014 Junior & Senior World Team members were selected at the National Championships.

Florham Park Figure Skating Club can be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fpfsc.