CALGARY, Alberta, March 25 (UPI) -- American Kimmie Meissner had a flawless long program Saturday to win the gold medal at the 2006 World Figure Skating Championships in Alberta, Canada.
The 16-year-old Meissner, who was third after Friday's short program, vaulted ahead of Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen and Japan's Fumie Suguri. The Maryland teen completed seven triple jumps and a pair of triple-triple combinations and earned 129.70 points.
While Meissner, who placed sixth at the Olympics, was practically perfect, Cohen threw away a chance at gold -- much as she did last month at Turin. The 21-year-old American had a shaky routine which included a fall on her final jump.
Cohen, a silver medalist at the last two World Championships, led Suguri by nearly four points and Meissner by almost six heading into the final day.
Meissner finished with a composite score of 218.33, with Suguri earning 209.74 points and Cohen 208.88.
