1.   Junior world champion pairs Danielle Hartsell and Steve Hartsell of the United States finished seventh, attempting only a double axel when most of the other pairs completed triples.

2.   World champion pairs Yelena Berezynaya and Anton Sikarulidze are also competing along with ice dance winners Angelika Krylova and Oleg Ovsiannikov.

3.   World pairs champion Mandy Woetzel and Ingo Steuer lost in their event to Russians Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze.

4.   World pairs champions Mandy Woetzel and Ingo Steuer withdrew from nationals last week Steuer could nurse a bruised arm.

5.   In the quarter-finals the Chinese pair defeated the top seeds and world number one pair of Rudy Gunawan and Bambang Suprianto of Indonesia.

6.   Double Olympic and four-times world pairs champion Sergey Grinkov died of a heart attack while training here on Monday.

7.   The top world doubles pair Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge should put Australia safely into the semi finals Saturday when they meet Rikl and Pavel Vizner in the doubles.

8.   On Saturday, top world doubles pair Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge meet David Rikl and Pavel Vizner.