Drama awaits on final night

Two titles up for grabs, with two rivals up front and deep fields behind them. That is the stage set for both the Senior men’s and women’s free skate finals today at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

The men’s 6:15 p.m. competition will likely come down to the winner of a battle between three-time defending champion Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek. There is a strong group of skaters battling for a third spot on the podium.

There is no defending champion in the women’s field, so a new one will be crowned.

World champion Kimmie Meissner is the favorite to win her first title in the 10:40 a.m. event. Emily Hughes and a well-matched field behind Meissner will likely have something to say about the outcome.

In the last practices of the week, all the skaters fine-tuned their long programs and practiced elements which could raise their scores if completed. The leaders in each field appear ready to put it all on the line in their quests for the titles.

Of course, it all comes down to one skate and anything can happen. One of the second-tier skaters could just as easily move up and earn a spot on the podium.

Meissner said she’s adding another triple-triple combination to her program, a move which could seal the victory with a clean skate. She has a lead of more than three points on second-place Beebe Liang and Hughes (who is third).

Hughes, who spent Friday celebrating her birthday, isn’t changing anything.

Her coach confirmed that Hughes was unable to skate three weeks ago, but has been able to fight through the pain of an ankle injury this week.

It may come down to who best charms the enthusiastic Spokane fans. Both skaters said they have been impressed by them this week. Hughes got them on their feet in the short program and wants to do it again today.

Meissner has been comfortable with her role as favorite and would outpoint Hughes if she skates a clean program.

Her coach, Pam Gregory, said she has every confidence in her skater and believes she can be champion.

Lysacek is the leader coming out of the short program and has appeared conditioned, focused and prepared to skate the type of program that could give him his first national title.

He also showed an ability to connect with the audience, drawing a standing ovation. He will skate before Weir and will have to decide whether to up the difficulty in his program by adding a quad.

Weir said he is definitely attempting the jump and practiced it several times Friday. Of course, he can wait to decide after Lysacek’s performance whether to attempt it or not.

History with an asterisk

Astute observers in the Arena Friday afternoon saw history – with an asterisk.

As the final group warmed up for the Senior Pairs long program, Derek Trent threw Tiffany Vise into the air.

Vise rotated four times before a perfect landing of a throw quad Salchow.

A portion of the crowd of 9,250 erupted and applause broke out on press row.

A quad throw has never been landed successfully by an American in a major competition. Alas, when Vise and Trent tried to duplicate the breath-taking move when it counted they failed.

Vise said. “We landed it fine in warm-ups,” Vise said. “In the program we pushed off a little late. That’s just the way it goes.”

The Colorado pair, fourth after Tuesday’s short program, lost a total of six points after the failed attempt.

“We only tried it three times in competition, two times in big events,” Trent said. “I thought it was going to go well. We wanted to go for it though. It just wasn’t the day.”

The real reason they were sixth in the long program, dropping to fifth overall, was Vise aborted a throw triple loop earlier in the 4-minute program.

“It cost us a medal,” Trent said. “That’s how it goes. We’ve never had that happen. I think her heel got caught in the ice.

“I’m proud of the rest of the program. The rest of the program was great.”

They didn’t blame the early miscue on the failure to land the history-making quad.

“It didn’t affect us at all,” Vice said. “We take it one thing at a time and go on to the next one. I rarely miss it. It was one of those freak things.”

They plan to keep trying, though they’re not sure when their next chance to officially make history will come.

“It’s definitely going to happen,” Trent said. “It’s a ways off. I’m proud of her for going for the quad. I thought it was going to happen.”

“We go back to training,” Vice added.