David and White Ascend to N01 ICENETWORK.COM World Figure Skater Rankings

American ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White assumed the top spot in the icenetwork.com World Figure Skater Rankings following their win at last week’s Rostelecom Cup in Moscow, Russia. Davis and White become the first U.S. skaters in any discipline to climb to No. 1 since the rankings were started in 2007.

Ladies

Japan’s Miki Ando captured her second gold medal in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series – her first since 2006 Skate America – in Moscow, elevating her to No. 5. Rostelecom Cup silver medalist Ashley Wagner of the United States moved up five places to No. 13, while Russian Alena Leonova, who won the bronze last week, jumped four notches to No. 9. Moving up three spots to No. 8 was Alissa Czisny, who placed fourth at the Rostelecom Cup.

Pairs

Qing Pang and Jian Tong of China strengthened their hold on the No. 2 ranking – and crept closer to top-ranked Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany – with their gold medal in Moscow. Rostelecom Cup silver medalists Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov inched up one place to No. 4, leapfrogging country mates Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov, while Americans Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker rose two spots to No. 7 after earning the bronze in Russia.

Ice Dancing

Davis and White continued an impressive streak during which they’ve won four of their last five competitions, a run of success that includes gold medals at the 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy, 2009 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and 2009 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Italy’s Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte, silver medalists at the Rostelecom Cup, improved two places to No. 13, while Ekaterina Rubleva and Ivan Shefer of Russia soared five spots to No. 13 on the strength of their bronze in Moscow, their first career Grand Prix medal.

For more information about the rankings, visit icenetwork.com and click on “Rankings.”

Rankings as of Oct. 26, 2009:

Ladies