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It was quite an evening. Due to the time lag on the "live" TV coverage, those of us on the West Coast didn't see the event until 3 hours later, so before the ladies began, I checked out the results. Normally I wouldn't do that, but I wanted to find out so I could prepare for writing this post. My reaction - Wow. I love figure skating competitions. You just never know what will happen. Out of the top ten skaters in the Senior Ladies division at Nationals, at least eight could be major contenders internationally. Unfortunately, we can only send three. Those ranked 6-10 after the Short Program skated in the first group tonight. As Bebe Liang completed her program, I knew the rest of the skaters must have done well. Her program was really good. Not superb, but really good. She came in fifth. I couldn't wait to see the rest skate. Caroline Zhang, who was in 7th after the Short Program, skated after Liang. She was perfect. Her layback was exquisite, her positions gorgeous, and her jumps high and clean. She received a standing ovation. She earned fourth place with that performance - a skate that would have earned her a higher spot on the podium many years, but not this year. A perfect program and a standing ovation and fourth place. Unbelievable. After that, knowing the results, I could only assume the top three also skated incredible programs. Rachel Flatt, who took the ice after Kimmie Meissner, completed seven triple jumps including a triple lutz, triple toe-loop combination and a triple flip, double toe-loop, double loop combination along with another triple lutz with a very difficult set-up, giving her even more points. And it wasn't just about the jumps. Her footwork, spiral position, connecting moves, speed and spins were all excellent. She received another standing ovation and when the numbers came up later, won the Free Skate. But not the gold. Ashley Wagner followed, also with seven triples planned for the first time. She opened with a giant triple lutz, triple loop, followed almost immediately by a double axel. The amount of strength and energy required for that is amazing. And after she finished the last of the jumps, she still looked just as strong as she did at the beginning of the program. Her jumps were all high and strong. Another flawless program and another standing ovation. She scored in second place in both events, but she took the bronze medal. This shouldn't get her down though. She reminds me of Sarah Hughes. I think she's one of those sleeper skaters who could come out a World or Olympic champion in the future. Mirai Nagasu, the last skater on the ice, leader after the Short Program, reigning Junior U.S. champion, the first time she ever competed with a four minute program, following three standing ovations, came in with a tiny bit of pressure on her. She opened with gorgeous spirals, but then had an odd fall on a double axel. After that, she skated cleanly and because she had such a strong lead after the Short Program, her points carried her through to earn the gold medal. Her overall presentation, her spin positions, and her characterization of her music all played a part as well. She wasn't smiling in the long program like in the short - she clearly knew she had to skate perfectly after that fall. She still earned a standing ovation. After she saw her scores and heard the results, she said, "What?!" Very exciting. According to Scott Hamilton commentating, the last time someone went from Junior champion to Senior champion in one year was 1938. "I'm just happy and without words," Nagasu said on TV. I was able to connect with this year's Chief Announcer, Robert Richmond, who had what he called "the privilege of announcing the Free Skating Competition." Richmond summarized the field nicely by saying: "There were some interesting surprises in the talent of the younger Senior Ladies." Oddly enough, of the top four skaters at the U.S. Nationals, three can't go to the World Championships because they're too young. In my post about the Short Program, I alluded to this, but I really thought Meissner would pull through for the podium. Flatt missed the cut-off by 20 days, and Nagasu and Zhang are both 14. They must be 16 to go. Instead, they will return to Junior Worlds as veterans. Most surprising was the finish of Kimmie Meissner,
