2008 United States Figure Skating Championships

Infobox Figure Skating Competition
title= 2008 United States Figure Skating Championships


imagesize=
caption= The senior ladies podium
comptype= National Championship
startdate= January 20
enddate= January 27
skatingseason= 2007/2008
location= St. Paul, Minnesota
host=
venue= Xcel Energy Center
prizemoney=
championmen= Evan Lysacek
championladies= Mirai Nagasu
championpairs= Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker
championdance= Tanith Belbin & Benjamin Agosto
previouscomp= 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
nextcomp= 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

The 2008 United States Figure Skating Championships was the figure skating national championship to determine the national champions of the United States for the 2007/2008 season. It was organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. In addition to determining the national champions, the event was also used to determine the U.S. teams for the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships, the 2008 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, and the 2008 Four Continents Championships.

Skaters competed in four disciplines across three levels. The disciplines of the competition were men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing, and the levels of competition were Senior, Junior, and Novice. Medals were given out in four colors: gold (first), silver (second), bronze (third), and pewter (fourth).

The 2008 Championships took place between January 20th and 27th in St. Paul, Minnesota in the Xcel Energy Center.

Competition notes

* Reigning four-time ice dancing silver medalists Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov withdrew before the event due to injury.
* Reigning silver medalist single skater Emily Hughes withdrew before the event due to injury.
*Ladies gold medalist Mirai Nagasu, silver medalist Rachael Flatt, and pewter medalist Caroline Zhang were not placed on the World or Four Continents team because they were not age-eligible.
*Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir tied in the overall score, with Weir winning the short program and Lysacek winning the free skate. Lysacek won the title on the first tiebreak under International Skating Union rules, which was the free skating score.

Qualifying

Qualification for the U.S. Championships begins at one of nine regional competitions. The regions are New England, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Upper Great Lakes, Eastern Great Lakes, Southwestern, Northwest Pacific, Central Pacific, and Southwest Pacific. The top four finishers in each regional advance to one of three sectional competitions (Eastern, Midwestern, and Pacific Coast). Skaters who place in the top four at sectionals advance to the U.S. Championships.

The top five finishers in each discipline from the previous year are given byes to the U.S. Championships, as are any skaters who qualify for the Junior or the Senior Grand Prix Final. Skaters are also given byes through a qualifying competition if they are assigned to an international event during the time that qualifying event is to take place. For example, if a skater is competing at an event at the same time as his or her regional competition, that skater would receive a bye to sectionals. If a skater is competing at an event at the same time as his or her sectional competition, that skater would qualify for the national event without having had to compete at a sectional championship.

enior-Level Results

Men

Ice Dancing

Pairs

Ladies

International Team Selections

World Team

References

* [http://www.usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=40337 U.S. Figure Skating Announces World, Four Continents and World Junior Teams]

External links

*
* [http://www.xcelenergycenter.com/saintpaul2008/index.jsp Saint Paul 2008 Figure Skating Championships]