Two young girls who recently began skating won first-place honors at the 19th Annual Sweetheart Open at the Kennedy Recreation Center.

More than 400 participants competed in 182 events at last month’s competition, attracting talent from as far away as Kansas City and Peoria, Ill.

Local teams from Brentwood, Webster Groves, St. Peters and the Kennedy Recreation Center also were well-represented.

Four-year-old Antoinette “Annie” Roussin and 3-year-old Georgette “Georgie” Roussin, who started skating when the season opened, won first place in their events.

Coached by Staci Wood, a junior at Nerinx Hall High School, they not only had the courage to go out onto the ice in front of a crowded arena, but skated to first-place finishes in their events.