Broadmoor skater Abbott prefers underdog

Fresh off the biggest accomplishment of his figure skating career, Jeremy Abbott isn't talking about the chances of claiming his first national title.

His coach, Tom Zakrajsek, calls him an underdog against 2006 Olympians Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir at the U.S. Championships, which begin Monday in Cleveland.

"Evan and Johnny are national champions more than once," Zakrajsek said. "They know how to win it, and they know how to defend it. That makes them the favorite."

And that should make Abbott comfortable, given his recent tear as a long shot.

The Broadmoor Skating Club member defied the odds in November with a gold medal at the Cup of China, then outlasted Weir in December to become the first American man to win the Grand Prix Final.

If Abbott, 23, from Aspen, places in the top three in Cleveland, he'll likely earn a berth in the Four Continents Championships next month in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the world championships in March in Los Angeles.

"He's working toward Vancouver" for the 2010 Olympics, Zakrajsek said. "He expects success. That's why he trains. That's why he makes himself good enough."

Abbott probably must land a quad toe loop - a jump with four rotations - in each of his programs to beat Lysacek, the two-time defending national champion, and Weir, who won the U.S. Championships three times in a row starting in 2004.

Zakrajsek said Abbott also must continue to show "a lot of attention to detail and overall maturity - awareness of what's going on in his mind and his body. ... Jeremy has an opportunity to be a national champion."

Curlers don't make trials
A Broadmoor Curling Club team failed to advance to the U.S. Olympic trials at a regional qualifier that ended Jan. 11 in Seattle. Brett and Brock Gleeson, Jim Hideman and Jerry Van Brunt Jr. finished tied for fifth.

Soccer players on road
Nine Colorado Springs soccer players started competition Saturday at the Region IV Olympic Development Program Championships in Phoenix. The group consisted of Alex Dohm, Darcy Jerman, Carley Kocel, Cate Parchinski, Catherine Ruder, Sarah Schweiss, Jenny Stoot, Kaeli Vandersluis and Kylie Williamson.

Volleyball clinic at OTC
The USA Volleyball high performance coaches clinic is Thursday through Saturday at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Women's national team coach Hugh McCutcheon will participate.