Local Teen Wins Junior Ladies Title at Regional Figure Skating Event

Local figure skater, Alison Jeffers, is gearing up for another busy season.

Next month, Nov. 15-19, the 17-year-old Gig Harbor teen will be in Salt Lake City for the Pacific Coast Sectional Championships. The top four finishers from the competition will advance to the U.S. Nationals in January.

Jeffers placed second in the short program, first in the long program and first overall to earn the gold medal at the Junior Ladies Championship of the Pacific Northwest region, which was held in Spoakane, Sept. 30-Oct. 3.

Skaters from throughout the six-state region: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, participated in the event.

Jeffers, who trains in Tacoma, Bremerton and Portland, Ore., has been skating for nearly 10 years. This year, she made a coaching change and now travels each week to Portland to work with former Olympic and World Team coach Diane Rawlinson, who's also coached Tonya Harding.

Last year, Jeffers qualified for the sectional championship by placing fourth at the junior level at regionals, and in 2008, she competed at the 2009 U.S. Junior Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y., after placing fourth at the Intermediate level at regionals.

Those wishing to help Jeffers with her expenses for this competition may make a tax-deductible contribution in her name to the New England Amateur Skating Foundation, P.O. Box 6881, Providence, RI, 02940. For details, call 253-858-2321.