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Boston College freshman Stephen Carriere of Wakefield skated his way into third place, earning a berth on the US team at the world championships. (NATI HARNIK/Associated Press) |
On Figure Skating
ST. PAUL - With due historical acknowledgment to Wounded Knee, the Nancy-Tonya daytime drama, there'd never been a week quite like this at a US figure skating nationals. Three of the top four women are too young for the world championships. An on-ice marriage proposal. And, for the finale, a two-decimal dead heat for the men's title.
"If you were scripting this whole deal, you couldn't have done any better than that," said Evan Lysacek, who retained his crown over former champion Johnny Weir despite a 244.77-244.77 draw because he won yesterday afternoon's long program.
If Weir had done just a little better, even a baby-jump single toe loop at the end of his triple lutz combination, he would have won his fourth crown. But given his emotional Wild Mouse ride of the past year, he proclaimed himself delighted.
"I feel fantastic," said Weir, who burst into tears as soon as his music stopped. "First place, second place, last place. I'm just glad I came back and didn't completely fall apart."
There was enough of that Saturday night when Kimmie Meissner, the defending women's champ and former world titlist, had the skate of her nightmares, falling three times and ending up seventh. It was, she concluded ruefully, a bummer and a shame, yet Meissner still was named to the team for the March world championships in Sweden because the selectors couldn't send the 1-2-4 finishers and wouldn't send three eligible rookies.
These championships belonged to the "Hello Kitty" Generation, to Mirai Nagasu and Rachael Flatt and Caroline Zhang, who are still young enough to (and have to) compete in the junior worlds. "I'm very excited and speechless for words," proclaimed the 14-year-old Nagasu, who's the youngest women's victor since Tara Lipinski in 1997.
If you've taken your PSATs, you're too old to win the senior ladies these days. Youth deserved to be served here, but would have had to present a fake ID. For the first time, half of the four victors aren't old enough to go to the global championships. Keauna McLaughlin, who won the pairs title with Rockne Brubaker, just turned 15 last September.
By that standard, the men are positively ancient. Weir, who's 23, was joking about wearing a "mirdle," a men's girdle, which he said he bought at "I'mgettingold.com." Lysacek, who's 22, sported a 5 o'clock shadow.
The youngest male member of the world team, 18-year-old Stephen Carriere of Wakefield, Mass., is a freshman at Boston College. Meissner, who's the same age, is considered an octogenarian on the women's side.
Except for the ineligibles, who'll be of age next time in the crucial pre-Olympic season, this was an encouraging week for American skating. After being consigned to cable oblivion, the big events were back in prime time on NBC and the dancers (OK, Tanith Belbin) finally got a share of the spotlight. And the depth on the men's and women's side was impressive.
Weir and Lysacek may both have underperformed here (a nervous Lysacek was marked down on four jumps), but they've developed a rivalry, marked by thinly concealed disdain, which pushes both of them. And Carriere, who vaulted from ninth last year to third, could be the Yank to watch at Olympus two years from now.
"My goal was to improve on last year and I'm glad I did that," said Carriere. "The world team and the medal are the icing on the cake."
While the future may be promising, the present - as in the upcoming world championships - could be rough. It's likely the US again will win only one medal, probably a silver by Belbin and partner Ben Agosto. And the women's entries probably will drop from three to two for next year's worlds in Los Angeles, which will determine Olympic berths for Vancouver. That hasn't happened since 1995.
You could have earned Vegas mad money (far more than betting on the Patriots) if you'd wagered that Bebe Liang and Ashley Wagner would have joined Meissner on the women's squad. The 19-year-old Liang, who still hasn't made a podium after eight trips to senior nationals, singled two jumps in the free skate. And the 16-year-old Wagner was only third in last year's junior event.
Wagner, though, clearly earned her way on, placing third overall with two strong skates. "It's even better because I feel I deserved it because I earned it," she said. "I'm 16 and I just made the world team. I think that's kind of crazy."
What's crazy is that all but one of America's best four women will be going to Bulgaria for what's essentially the planetary pre-pubescent championships. Such is skating with the Hello Kitty Generation. Tenley Albright never had to take her algebra homework overseas.
John Powers can be reached at jpowers@globe.com.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
