Isabel Levito At age 15, she won her first U.S. figure skating title, cementing her status as the new leading American woman to open the new Olympic cycle.
Levito, the world junior champion, scored 223.33 points between two strong programs in San Jose, California. The two-time US champion withdrew from the competition. Brady TennellIn the year He went 19 months between tournaments in 2021 and 2022 due to foot and ankle injuries, scoring 213.12.
Tennell was only two hundredths behind Levito after Thursday’s short but had several jumping errors in the free skate.
Levito followed her last in the freestyle and struggled with the most pressured routine, including the toughest jump combination of her young career. She did not receive a single negative mark from the judges for her 19 technical elements in her two programs.
Moments later, she was backstage in tears.
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In the year “I’m proud of myself for staying so calm and focused,” Levito, who didn’t finish on the podium in more than 20 events in November 2016, said on NBC. “I’m ready to start climbing the walls.”
Amber GlennThe 23-year-old would become the oldest U.S. women’s singles skater to win her first world championship in at least 45 years by finishing third. Glenn missed her 11th attempt to join the U.S. women’s list of clean triple Axels (according to data from Skatingscores.com), but still ranked fourth after the short program. Star Andrews.
Last year, Glenn entered nationals as the fourth-ranked woman in the United States and a hopeful for the three-woman Olympic team. She competed undiagnosed with Covid-19 and placed 14th in the short program, then tested positive and withdrew before the free skate.
In the year In 2021, Glenn was the silver medalist for the United States, but was passed over for a spot on two women’s world teams in favor of more experienced men. Karen ChenHe finished 35 percent behind Glenn at those nationals.
Levito, Tennell and Glenn are expected to make the team at the World Championships in March by committee decision.
Gracie GoldThe two-time U.S. champion, who was fifth after the short program, dropped to eighth after popping a pair of scheduled triple lutes.
None of the three 2022 U.S. Olympians competed. Alisa Liu And Maria Bell He retired. Chen is a student at Cornell and may not return.
Nationals continues Saturday with the free dance and couples free skate, live on NBC Sports and Peacock.
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