2007 U.S. Nationals

Senior Men

Text and photos copyright 2007 by George S. Rossano

Coming into Nationals the buzz was that this would be Evan Lysacek's season.  Not only because he has been among the top men skaters for several years, but also for two intangibles as well -- his consistently higher placements over Johnny Weir internationally, and a recent picture of Weir that has been circulating on the internet recently.

Intangibles aside, Lysacek had a great skate in the Short Program, though he holds only an 0.85 point lead in the event.  Looking at the marks detail, it appears this was a split panel, but without crunching the numbers it cannot be said how close the split was.  He skated "clean" though, he did receive three -1s for GoEs on his flying sit spin, and one on his change foot spin.  In addition to receiving the highest element scores, he also was scored first in Program Components (for which the judges have been extremely anemic yet again).  Today "was this weight lifted off of my shoulders," he said, "and I think this was my goal today -- to show anyone that has criticized my short program skating that when I'm really well trained ans prepared and want to win something, that nothing can stop me."

The reigning National Champion, Johnny Weir followed close behind Lysacek, placing second in the short.  He was scored slightly lower than Lysacek in both element and Program Components.

Weir received a majority of negative GoEs for his triple flip, which cost him a least 0.57 points.  His circular step sequence was also called as only a level 2. (Level 3 would have earned him an additional base value of 0.80)  The two errors together cost him the victory in the Short Program.

On his performance he said, "[I feel] relief, a lot of people are counting me out of this championships.  I hadn't competed well all season and with all the pressure being three-time champion, I'm trying to keep the title.  I'm so happy that I didn't fall on my butt and I was able to get through it. I'm happy I was able to get through it, I trained very hard for this program and it showed through today."

4.56 points back, Ryan Bradley placed third in the short.  Skating to a polka and "Happy Birthday" he turned in his best performance yet in a National Championship, being 8th overall in 2006, and not competing in 2005.  The score was a new personal best, by over 9 points.  He received just one -1 for a GoE in all his elements.  Like the the leaders ahead of him he landed four triple jumps, in his case triple Axel, triple flip - triple toe, and triple Lutz.  (The top three men all landed triple-triple combinations and triple Axel.)

For both element scores and Program Components he was scored third.  His highest scored skill was interpretation, for a goofy (my opinion) but enthusiastically performed program.

"I feel awesome," he said. " I've never been close to breaking the 70s.  At home I knew my spins, the footwork had more flair, a little better levels.  I started thinking yesterday that I might be able to get up there if I can put it all together."  And later, "When they left I knew somebody had to step up.  I knew that I couldn't get there through unless I raised by game.  It really motivated me to take my skating to a new level.  It's still a work in progress but I feel much better."

5.02 point behind Bradley, Parker Pennington lies in fourth place.  He landed triple Axel, triple flip - double toe and triple Lutz.  He was scored fourth in elements (by a mere 0.03 points) and had a handful of -1 GoEs scattered through the elements.  Other than lacking the triple - triple, his main weakness was the Program Component where he was scored seventh, barely making it into the 6s, and scoring only 5.82 for transitions.

The next four men are all within 2 points of Pennington, and have a reasonable numerical shot at the pewter medal.  

If you were on the East Coast, you had to stay up until 1 AM to see, it.  But it would have been worth the wait.  The Men's event was the best of the lot in the Senior division.  Evan Lysacek crushed the competition with a performance for the ages, increasing his personal best event total by nearly 20 points.  Adding to the drama, the irreverent Ryan Bradley but together two good performances back to back, to place second, while Johnny Weir managed to cling tenuously to third place.

Skating first among the top three men, Lysacek landed 9 triples and quads, opening with a clean quad toe loop - triple toe loop combination, which received eight GoEs of +2.  In the Short Program press conference he said he would decide whether to attempt the quad the day of the Free Skate, and after his performance revealed he decided just a few minutes before his performance, without letting his coach, Frank Carroll, in on it.  It was indeed a memorable performance, event though the program is now three years old.  When he got to the final step sequence (element 13) the crowd went wild, and at the end their was a tumultuous standing ovation.  He earned a remarkable 91.13 points for elements, while his Program Components were in the mid 7s to low 8s, with his highest mark for Performance/Execution.

Next to skate was Weir who looked apprehensive.  His jumps were not solid.  His opening triple Axel was landed on the toe, and a subsequent solo quad toe loop attempt was around, but two footed.  At that point, he was fighting for second place.  Mid-program he fell on triple loop, and two elements later he singled an Axel.  At that point he was fighting for third place, which is where he ultimately ended up.  His result was helped somewhat by Program Component scores in the low 7s.  Afterwards, he said that the routine was still not polished to the point it presented his choreographer's (Marina Anissina) vision of the program, but he expected it would by Worlds.  He also described how he interacts with Anissina (who is located in Europe) through the internet, with videos on YouTube.

To my mind, the program is a lost cause.  He should have replaced it after the Grand Prix, the way Belbin & Agosto dumped their initial attempt at a free dance this season.  Weir placed only fourth in the Free Skate.  In kiss and cry he was weeping with disappointment, and the arena video screen displayed the competition logo, so as not to show it.  (According to a second hand source, it is also said that the cameraman's battery went dead at just that moment.)

Last to skate was Ryan Bradley.  He placed second in the Free Skate, landing seven triples, including a triple Axel - triple toe combination.  An attempt at a second triple Axel when bad, but he was able to save it as a wildly landed double.  In Program Components his marks were mostly in the high 6s to mid 7s, with one judge giving a 4.25 for transitions.  As to be expected it was a colorful program, though with a few dead spots that need to be filled.  Nevertheless, it was a great skate for him, and a breakthrough competition.  He too received an enthusiastic standing ovation from the crowd.  After the reading of marks in kiss and cry, he returned to the ice (highly unusual and maybe against the rules) slapped hands with the audience and did a back flip.  During the awards ceremony as he went to take his place on the podium, he paused and shoot the hand of each of the presenters waiting on line for the ceremony.  He was absolutely giddy with joy at his result.

Third place in the Free Skate and fourth place overall was taken by Jeremy Abbott, who was ninth in the Short Program and and skated in the second of the three warm-up groups.  He landed seven triples, but also singled two Axels.  He also stepped out of a triple flip.  His Program Components were in the mid to upper 6s.  It was a decent skate despite the errors, performed with nice expression and musicality.  This was reflected in his component scores, with the three presentation components the highest of the five, and his interpretation mark the highest of all.  He too was thrilled to find himself on the podium for the first time. 

2007 Senior Men Medalists