Chock and Bates win ice dance at Four Continents

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Madison Chock and Evan Bates delivered the season-best free dance they needed to edge Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nkolaj Sorensen and win the ice dance at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships on Sunday.

The four-time American champions scored 133.14 points to their free dance for a total of 220.81. Their Canadian rivals, who also set a season best with their free dance, finished with 214.08 points to take the silver medal.

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha scored 200.00 points to take the bronze medal.

It was the third title for Chock and Bates at the marquee event for non-European nations, and it underscores their status as the favorites to win the ice dance world title next month in Japan. Their biggest competition, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada, did not compete at Four Continents after winning their head-to-head meeting at the Grand Prix Final.

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