1999 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Senior Men

Final Standings

        J1:  William Fitzpatrick
        J2:  Shirley Hage
        J3:  Taffy Holliday
        J4:  Scott Cormier
        J5:  Janet Allen
        J6:  Sharon Watson
        J7:  J. Barlow Nelson
        J8:  Linda Chihara
        J9: Janet McLeod

Notes after the long program.

Skating to music from "Mulan" Michael Weiss attempted eight triples and a quad on his way to claiming his first National Championship.  There were but two technical errors in the program, a fall on a quad toe loop attempt and falling out of a combinations spin which he pushed into a second time and completed.  His eight triples included two triple Axels and two triple-triple combinations, a triple Axel - triple toe loop and a triple flip - triple toe loop.  His presentation was careful and controlled with good speed.   As the successor to Todd Eldredge it is only natural he would be compared to the former champion, and while a worthy victor he still does not have the intensity and passion the Eldredge brought to his finest performances.   Going into Worlds Weiss will also be compared to Eldredge on the subject of how well can man do at Worlds without a quad.

This is the third consecutive Nationals where Weiss attempted the quad and failed. At the beginning of the competition it was understood that Weiss would not attempt the quad, but with Timothy Goebel expected to land his triple Salchow here and Weiss skating four skaters before Goebel he gave it another try.  Weiss got most of the way around on the jump but the check out was late and he fell.  As it turned out, Goebel also fell on his quad attempt so the record for the first quad in a U.S. Nationals is still up for grabs.

The buzz at the Pacific Coast Sectional was that if Trifun Zivonovic had two stand up performances third place would be his.  Zivonovic delivered those two performances and he placed better than predicted, placing second in the long for a second place finish.   In the process he even earned one first place ordinal from one judge over Michael Weiss.  His performance to music from "West Side Story" was much improved over Pacific Coast.  He landed eight triples and skated with an intensity that was superior to the rest of the men in the event.  He landed two triple Axels, though with a small reach for the ice on one, and a triple flip - triple toe loop combination.

Timothy Goebel dropped from second in the short program to third in the long.  He attempted seven triples and a quad, falling on his quad Salchow attempt and a triple Axel.   He landed a second triple Axel and five other triple.  Unlike the two men placed above him he also did not have a triple-triple combination.

These three men will be representing the U.S. next month at the World Championships in Helsinki. Michael Weiss will not be competing at next week's Four Continents Championships and will be replaced by fourth place medalist Matthew Savoie who wil be joined by Zivonociv and Goebel in Halifax.

Notes after the short program.

Those of us looking for a little excitement in this Nationals were hoping that Timothy Goebel would press Michael Weiss a little harder in the men's competition, but Weiss was just too strong.  He landed triple flip - double toe loop, triple Lutz, and a triple Axel.  He skated in a relaxed and confident manner with good speed and energy.   His only error was a very minor dragging of the free toe and reach for the ice on the triple Axel.  His marks, while good, left plenty of room for Goebel who skated three competitors later.

Goebel landed the same jumps as Weiss, skating to the often used music from "Zorba the Greek."  Technically he skated well, with string jumps, good spins, and excellent footwork.  His main weakness at this point is in the second mark.  He is expected to attempt a quad-triple in the free skate.

Third place was closely contested with no skater receiving a majority of thirds and three skaters receiving a majority of fourths.  Trifun Zivanovik edged out Matthew Savoie and Shepherd Clark for the third spot in the short program.  Skating the same short program as last year, "The Rocketeer", he landed triple flip - double toe loop, triple Lutz, and triple Axel - apparently the new content of choice under the new short program requirements ( the top five skaters all attempted the same jumps is the short program, with only Shepherd Clark doubling the triple Axel).  It was rumored in December that third place was open for Zivanivic if he did two stand-up performances and so far that appears to be coming true.

Derrick Delmore, another pre-competition favorite for the bronze medal did not have a good skate.  He fell on triple Axel in his jump combination and landed triple Lutz.   By using the triple Axel in the jump combination he had to use the double Axel for the required Axel jump.  Although he had just the one error, his program also had no snap to it and he ended up placing seventh in the short program.   It will be extremely difficult for him to overcome this position and move up for a medal, although it is not impossible if he skates well in the long program a few skaters ahead of him fall apart.

Free Skating

Short Program

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