Floating Above Tension
Hughes in third behind Kwan, Cohen after short program

January 11, 2002

Los Angeles -- Sometimes there is crying in figure skating. And it isn't 
necessarily bad.

In yesterday's U.S. National Figure Skating Championships, a dastardly 
event that cold-heartedly selects only three women for next month's Salt 
Lake City Olympics, Long Island's Sarah Hughes performed her short program 
so meticulously, so lyrically, that she left her coach, Robin Wagner, in 
tears.

"It was very emotional," Wagner said. "And some of it probably was a 
release of tension. But that program is so gentle, and Sarah was 
exquisite. It was not just that she completed the elements. I thought she 
skated the program emotionally and gave of herself."

That the judging panel wasn't quite so moved is not yet a problem for the 
16-year-old Hughes, who holds third place behind five-time national champ 
Michelle Kwan and 17-year-old Californian Sasha Cohen and leads 
Californian Angela Nikodinov after an afternoon in which the competitive 
feathers were flying.

All four of the most likely Olympics candidates, fighting over those three 
berths, put on a fine show amid collar-tightening pressure, setting up a 
major tug-of-war in tomorrow night's long program, which counts two-thirds 
of the final score. With the exception of Kwan's surprisingly high marks 
at the beginning of yesterday's session, the nine judges could not agree 
upon a favorite among the next three.

Hughes, skating shortly after Kwan, was preferred, 5-4, over Nikodinov, 
who took the ice immediately after Hughes. Cohen, whose turn didn't come 
for another 90 minutes as the 18-woman field was predictably whittled 
down, then edged out Hughes, also 5 judges to 4.

"I think Sarah would have been OK with coming in second but it's harder 
for her to be third," Wagner said. "But I told her that that's not to 
detract from the way she skated. When it's good, you'd better enjoy those 
moments."

"Robin kept telling me, 'Sparkle. Be an angel,'" Hughes said. "I felt like 
air. It's like, today, I did everything I could. I can't be upset."

Kwan, the old veteran at 21, made the point that, "Geez, the nationals 
always are difficult. I remember my first senior nationals [when she was 
12], it was such a big thing that I had five triples [in her long 
program]. Now, just about all the senior ladies are doing five triples."

As four-time world champion and '98 Olympic silver medalist, Kwan 
yesterday had the luxury of playing things safely. And perhaps her jumps 
weren't as high or as difficult as some she has done in her accomplished 
past, but she was solid and the judges gave her a string of 9.9s for 
presentation.

Hughes followed with her floating routine to the music of "Ave Marie," 
bursting into a grin after her final triple jump (a flip). Then Nikodinov 
zipped around in red, also nailing all her elements. As did Cohen, back on 
the skating scene after a back injury caused her to miss all of last 
season.

"I thought it was probably the most exciting group of short programs I can 
remember," Wagner said. "The field was deep, the girls were strong, and 
everybody skated with their hearts."

Kwan spoke of her ability to draw on experience - "I know what to expect" 
- and Cohen's coach, the acerbic John Nicks, declared that "all is 
forgiven when she skates like that" in the hard-headed relationship he has 
with his student. Wagner said she thought of spending "so many months of 
preparation ... and to see it all come together in two minutes and 40 
seconds, was very emotional."

Of course, the whole tense drama will be renewed tomorrow night, and 
adding spice to the tale is the late-day draw determining the order of 
competition. Among the final group of six skaters, Kwan must go first, 
followed by Nikodinov, (who has a reputation for faltering in the long 
program), then Cohen (who also must demonstrate her healthy return to the 
sport), then Hughes (usually at her best in the long).

"It's definitely a fight," Hughes said. "A big fight."