American Sasha Cohen continued her season-closing success by winning the Marshalls World Skating Challenge in Providence, Rhode Island, defeating world champion Shizuka Arakawa of Japan and countrywoman Michelle Kwan.

　　Cohen, a surprise silver medalist at the world championships in Dortmund, Germany, 10 days ago, took the crown with a flawless performance that earned her a pair of 6.0s for presentation from a panel of five international judges on Tuesday in the final competition of the season.

　　"This was definitely a 'Yes' performance," Cohen said. "It was definitely my best."

　　Cohen brought the crowd to its feet when the 6.0s flashed on the scoreboard. "It was really nice to get some 6.0s," she said. "I know I had two here and four at worlds."

　　Arakawa, who ended Kwan's five-time reign as world champion, finished second.

　　Kwan was third. "I felt very good. It's a bummer I made two mistakes," she said.

　　Cohen defeated a field of seven skaters, which included Fumine Suguri of Japan, US bronze medalist Jennifer Kirk, 2002 Olympic silver medalist Irina Slutskaya of Russia and Japan's Miki Ando.

　　In the men's competition held earlier, world champion Evgeni Plushenko, the 2002 Olympic silver medalist, edged France's Brian Joubert. It was a similar result to the worlds, were the pair finished in the same order.

　　The men's field of six skaters included 2002 Olympic bronze medalist Tim Goebel, US champion Johnny Weir, three-time US champion Michael Weiss and Evan Lysacek.

　　(The Associated Press)