US skaters are medal contenders

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Seems hard to believe, but it was only about a decade ago that cracking the top 10 was a monumental achievement for a U.S. dance team.

Now the Americans are sending not one, but two medal contenders to the Vancouver Olympics.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White won their second straight ice dance title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Saturday, beating Olympic and world silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto for the first time in their careers. Long overshadowed by Belbin and Agosto — at home and internationally — Davis and White left little doubt they are now equal to their friends and former training partners, as well as the other top teams in the world.

“It’s important in our home country to come out on top,” White said. “What we want to do at the Olympics is win.”

Davis and White finished with a U.S.-record 222.29 points, a little less than four points in front of Belbin and Agosto. Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates were third, likely rounding out the squad for the U.S. Olympics.

The ladies free skate was later Saturday, with Sasha Cohen trying to clinch a spot on her third Olympic team eight months after announcing her return to competitive skating. The Americans can send two women to Vancouver, and less than a point separated leader Mirai Nagasu, Cohen and Rachael Flatt. The event was not completed for today’s edition.

Davis and White had never beaten Belbin and Agosto, who have long dominated U.S. dance with five straight titles (2004-08) and the silver medal at last year’s worlds. They missed last year’s nationals because of Agosto’s back injury, clearing the way for Davis and White to win their first title.

But Davis and White have been quietly climbing the international ranks — their win at last month’s Grand Prix final was the first by an American team — and showed they have the skill, strength and acting chops to medal in Vancouver.

Maybe even win gold.

“I think it’s really a testament to our training to come out and beat an amazing team, especially going into the Olympics,” White said. “It feels good, but it feels like the hard work isn’t done.”

Skating to “Music of the Night” from “The Phantom of the Opera,” Davis and White were simply magnificent.