News and notes

The Princeton University Figure Skating Club placed fifth out of eight schools at the University of Delaware Intercollegiate Figure Skating Competition last Saturday.

The event is one of three competitions for the Eastern Collegiate Figure Skating Conference. Teams qualify for nationals in March based on their point totals from the three events. Also skating at the competition were Boston University, Northeastern, Penn State, Cornell, Hofstra and San Jose State.

Princeton sent only five skaters to the competition, and all managed to place in at least one event.

"We did very well in all the events we entered," senior Lindsay Warner said, "but because we don't have as many skaters we don't do well against larger schools."

Princeton got solid performances from all its seniors. Lindsay Karfeld placed first in the Intermediate short program and second in the Novice long program. Warner placed second in the Pre-intermediate B short program, and Megan Hughes placed first in Novice dance.

The team's freshmen more than held their own. Christine Chang placed fourth in the Senior dance, the highest level of dance competition. Whitney Karfeld took fourth in the Senior long program, the highest level in the long program.

Unlike the women's figure skating that takes place in the Olympic Games, collegiate competitions are much more team oriented. Instead of competing purely for themselves, the skaters score points for their teams in each event.

"I think the great thing about collegiate skating is that it's not as high-pressured as in high school," Hughes said. "Everybody who skates in college loves it." —ANDREW FUNK and DAVID MORDKOFF