Nagasu, Czisny, Flatt -1,2,3 After the Short

As expected Mirai Nagasu, Alissa Czisny and Rachael Flatt compose the top three after the short program at 2011 US Nationals. All three women delivered strong short programs, but only two of them will represent the US at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. The long program is on Saturday.

Mirai Nagasu - 1st in the Short - 63.35

AP Photo/Chuck Burton

Alissa Czisny - 2nd in the Short - 62.50

REUTERS/Chris Keane

Rachael Flatt - 3rd in the Long - 62.32

REUTERS/Chris Keane

2011 US Nationals Senior Ladies Short Program Results

1 Mirai Nagasu, Pasadena FSC 63.35
2 Alissa Czisny, Detroit SC 62.50
3 Rachael Flatt, Broadmoor SC 62.32
4 Agnes Zawadzki, Broadmoor SC 61.54
5 Christina Gao, Northern Kentucky SC 58.43
6 Vanessa Lam, All Year FSC 57.61
7 Ashley Wagner, SC of Wilmington 54.63
8 Yasmin Siraj, SC of Boston 49.91
9 Morgan Bell, Rocky Mountain FSC 49.73
10 Caroline Zhang, All Year FSC 48.48
11 Alexe Gilles, Broadmoor SC 47.75
12 Joelle Forte, SC of New York 47.03
13 Kristine Musademba, Washington FSC 46.94
14 Danielle Kahle, All Year FSC 45.87
15 Melissa Bulanhagui, University of Delaware FSC 45.36
16 Ellie Kawamura, All Year FSC 45.19
17 Kristiene Gong, All Year FSC 44.12
18 Kelsey Traunero, SC of Wilmington 42.28
19 Keli Zhou, SC of Oregon 41.38
20 Felicia Zhang, SC of New York 41.23
21 Katy Jo West, Rocky Mountain FSC 40.07
22 Raina Narita, SC of New York 33.75
23 Tatyana Khazova, Broadmoor SC 26.58

Will it be Number 2 for Flatt, Czisny or Nagasu?

Yes, that rhymed. No, it wasn't intentional. :)

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson

If neither of those 3 ladies wins her second US title in January, who might win their first? Ashley Wagner? If she can skate a clean short program, maybe. Newbie Agnes Zawadzki? If she can stop skating shaky long program, perhaps.

My gut says Mirai Nagasu wins a second US championship this month. Not only do I feel she's pacing herself well this season, she also thrives under lower expectations. On the other hand, Alissa Czisny historically struggles in the favorite role. Of course, Rachael Flatt can never be counted out. Ever. How many times has she gotten the last laugh. So, what do you think will happen?

Vote >>>>>>

Favorite Short Program Performance of the Year Results

Yuna Kim - 2010 Olympics	449 (91%)
Mao Asada - 2010 Olympics	15 (3%)
Joannie Rochette - 2010 Olympics	14 (2%)
Mirai Nagasu - 2010 World Championships	8 (1%)
Other 6 (1%) Votes so far: 492 Poll closed

2010 World Championships - Final Results + Notes

2010 World Champion Mao Asada

Mao Asada - Gold

Yuna Kim - Silver

Laura Lepisto - Bronze

4. Miki Ando

5. Cynthia Phaneuf

6. Carolina Kostner

7. Mirai Nagasu

8. Ksenia Makarova

9. Rachael Flatt

10. Viktoria Helgesson

Mao Asada becomes the first woman to regain the World title since Irina Slutskaya in 2005. Yuna Kim's inability to defend her world title means Katarina Witt remains the last woman to go undefeated all season in the year she took Olympic gold. Laura Lepisto is the first lady from Finland to ever medal at the World Championships. Cynthia Phaneuf has bragging rights as the highest placing North American skater. For the third straight season, the lady with the higher US Nationals finish is not the highest placing American at worlds.

2010 World Championships - Ladies Short Program Results

Mirai Nagasu in the lead.

Who saw this coming?

Top 24 advance to the long program

1 Mirai Nagasu USA 70.40 40.20 30.20
2 Mao Asada JPN 68.08 37.12 30.96
3 Laura Lepisto FIN 64.30 34.98 29.32
4 Carolina Kostner ITA 62.20 33.20 29.00
5 Ksenia Makarova RUS 62.06 36.90 25.16
6 Rachael Flatt USA 60.88 33.80 27.08
7 Yu-Na Kim KOR 60.30 30.02 30.28
8 Cynthia Phaneuf CAN 59.50 33.94 25.56
9 Viktoria Helgesson SWE 56.32 32.68 23.64
10 Julia Sebestyen HUN 56.10 30.06 26.04
11 Miki Ando JPN 55.78 28.70 28.08
12 Elene Gedevanishvili GEO 55.26 30.34 25.92
13 Sarah Hecken GER 55.20 33.64 21.56
14 Alena Leonova RUS 54.36 29.40 25.96
15 Jenna McCorkell GBR 52.12 29.92 22.20
16 Kiira Korpi FIN 51.72 26.68 26.04
17 Cheltzie Lee AUS 51.36 31.40 19.96
18 Yan Liu CHN 49.96 28.52 21.44
19 Anastasia Gimazetdinova UZB 49.10 29.34 19.76
20 Akiko Suzuki JPN 48.36 23.32 26.04
21 Sonia Lafuente ESP 47.72 27.08 21.64
22 Elena Glebova EST 47.72 26.32 21.40
23 Min-Jung Kwak KOR 47.46 27.30 21.16
24 Manouk Gijsman NED 47.44 30.60 16.84
25 Ivana Reitmayerova SVK 45.96 25.60 20.36
26 Sarah Meier SUI 45.06 23.10 22.96
27 Tamar Katz ISR 44.96 25.20 20.76
28 Tugba Karademir TUR 44.52 23.88 20.64
29 Myriane Samson CAN 44.20 24.44 21.76
30 Kerstin Frank AUT 43.80 26.76 17.04
31 Victoria Muniz PUR 41.08 25.24 15.84
32 Bettina Heim SUI 41.00 24.60 16.40
33 Fleur Maxwell LUX 40.22 24.70 16.52
34 Teodora Postic SLO 40.20 23.64 18.56
35 Karina Johnson DEN 38.22 23.78 15.44
36 Zanna Pugaca LAT 38.20 24.48 13.72
37 Mirna Libric CRO 37.24 22.52 14.72
38 Lauren Ko PHI 33.34 19.30 14.04
39 Martina Bocek CZE 32.90 18.66 15.24
40 Irina Movchan UKR 32.60 19.00 14.60
41 Sonia Radeva BUL 32.12 20.60 12.52
42 Ana Cecilia Cantu MEX 31.88 16.64 15.24
43 Crystal Kiang TPE 31.72 18.36 13.36
44 Georgia Glastris GRE 31.36 18.00 13.36
45 Gwendoline Didier FRA 29.32 15.28 16.04
46 Marina Seeh SRB 28.32 17.84 10.48
47 Clara Peters IRL 28.20 16.00 12.20
48 Tamami Ono HKG 27.74 13.54 14.20
49 Abigail Pietersen RSA 25.76 14.88 11.88
50 Charissa Tansomboon THA 25.22 13.90 12.32
51 Sabina Paquier ROU 24.42 14.46 10.96
52 Yoniko Eva Washington IND 24.24 15.00 10.24
53 Beatrice Rozinskaite LTU 23.68 13.72 10.96
WDR Isabelle Pieman BEL
WDR Sonja Mugosa MNE

Photo AFP

Can Mirai Nagasu play spoiler for the Vancouver medalists at the 2010 Worlds?

4th place in Vancouver - Can Mirai Nagasu medal in Torino?

I've added a poll to the blog. Assuming all three Vancouver medalists make good on their promise to compete in Torino, are there any skaters who could upset the podium? Could Mirai Nagasu medal at her first Worlds? Will judges' favorite Laura Lepisto win her first World medal? Can Miki Ando rebound from her disappointment in Vancouver? Who is most likely to play spoiler? Poll is to the right of this post.

Photo AP

Tenley Albright - America's First Ice Queen

Although US ladies Mirai Nagasu and Rachael Flatt should be very proud of their finishes in Vancouver, the 2010 Olympics marked the first time an American woman finished off the ladies podium in 46 years.

In 1956 Tenley Albright was the first US woman to strike Olympic gold in the ladies figure skating event. Here she is pictured 54 years ago when she won gold at the Cortina Olympics.