U.S. Pairs Champions Eyeing Gold

Move over Europeans, Kyoko Ina and Jason Dungjen have Olympic medals on their minds. And they just might take the gold.

Ina and Dungjen won their second straight U.S. pairs title Friday with soaring lifts, huge jumps and spectacular throws - and in the end, 5.8s and 5.9s across the board.

“The first year at the Olympics, we were just hoping to skate well,” Dungjen said. “This year, we’re going with the intention of medaling, and we feel if we can do a performance like tonight, we don’t see why we shouldn’t.”

Difficult program or no, Ina and Dungjen didn’t really have any competition. Two-time national champion Jenni Meno and Todd Sand withdrew from the competition 30 seconds before they were supposed to skate because of an ankle injury Meno suffered during an afternoon practice.

Meno received medical treatment and returned to the arena for the event. But she couldn’t compete.

Meno and Sand, in second place after Wednesday’s short program, are two-time world bronze medalists and were given an injury bye to the Olympic team.

Shelby Lyons and Brian Wells, though they finished second, were left off both the Olympic and world teams in favor of Meno and Sand. Carolyn Kruse, chairwoman of the U.S. Figure Skating Association’s International Committee, said the vote by the 22-person group wasn’t unanimous, but no breakdown was given.

Only the U.S. champion is guaranteed a spot on the Olympic team. To fill any additional spots, the committee considers results of the nationals and international competition in the past two years, and any extenuating circumstances, such as injuries.