Cohen Falls, Tumbles to Seventh in Junior World Championships

At the U.S. Senior National Championships in Cleveland last month, Sasha Cohen skated a nearly perfect short program, taking first place.

Friday at the Junior World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany--and performing a technically easier short program--Cohen finished ninth after falling on her triple lutz and then losing her edge and her landing on the double axel.

Cohen, the 15-year-old from Laguna Niguel who won a surprising silver medal at the senior nationals last month, toppled to seventh place overall at the Junior World Championships with only the long program today left.

Because of age-restriction rules, Cohen may compete at the Senior World Championships in Nice, France, on March 26 only by winning a medal in Germany.

Deanna Stellato, 16, from Glenview, Ill., leads the competition and Jennifer Kirk, 15, from Newton, Mass., is second with Sarah Meier of Switzerland third.

Stellato finished ninth at the U.S. nationals and Kirk seventh. Neither is eligible for the Senior World Championships.