Allison Heimler of East Hills won the gold medal in the Moves in the Field and a silver medal in the Individual Freestyle events at the 2001 USFSA Darien Open Figure Skating Championship in Darien, CT, April 26.

Skating in highly competitive groups of eight skaters from throughout the Northeast, Allison received a perfect 5.0 score from the judges in the Moves in the Field event by flawlessly executing numerous required elements. In the Freestyle event Allison impressed the judges with her grace, athleticism and skill skating to the music of Sweet Charity in a routine filled with required elements choreographed by her coaches Linda Lester and Valerie Murray.

At the Nassau County Figure Skating Championships in Hicksville, May 4-6, Allison again won the first place trophy in the compulsory Moves in the Field event. In the team compulsory event Allison flawlessly executed the forward spiral and sit spin moves helping her team, Team 2001, to win the first place trophy. In the Individual Freestyle competition Allison faced an extremely strong field and placed fifth skating her signature program to the music of Sweet Charity. Allison also placed first in the individual showcase event skating a spirited and spunky routine to the song Pink Cadillac. In the Individual Interpretive event Allison placed second by skating an improvisational routine to music that she heard only immediately before competing.

Allison is a fourth grade student in Ms. Svitek and Ms. Perotta's class at the East Hills School and is a member of the Long Island Edge Figure Skating Team and the Cantiague Figure Skating Club. Allison will compete next at the 2001 USFSA Sectional Championships in New York City in September.