Broadmoor's Flatt falls to 8th despite flawless routine

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Rachael Flatt again performed with the grace and skill that have made her a strong contender for the Olympics. This time, she added a dose of tempo and a big grin.

The Broadmoor Skating Club member rebounded from a hiccup at the U.S. Championships with a dazzling short program free of errors and full of substance Wednesday at the Four Continents Championships.

Flatt wowed a sparse crowd at Pacific Coliseum by executing a triple-triple, a triple lutz and a double axel. She finished eighth, 17 points behind South Korean Yu-Na Kim. Caroline Zhang was fifth, and Alissa Czisny was seventh.

Broadmoor pair Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker finished seventh in the short, 11 points in back of leaders Pang Qing and Tong Jian of China. Rena Inoue and John Baldwin took fifth, and Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett were eighth.

In the ice dancing short, Meryl Davis and Charlie White were runners-up, a point behind Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates placed fourth, and Kimberly Navarro and Brent Bommentre were sixth.

Before finishing second last month at nationals, Flatt launched a Web site (rachaelflatt.net) to show her smile minus braces. She also signed with MAC Cosmetics, a Canadian company that's providing her makeup through the 2010 Vancouver Games.

A Cheyenne Mountain High School junior, Flatt boasts the same sophisticated music, including Henry Mancini's "Moon River" from the 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's," choreographed by Lori Nichol, and elegant costumes, designed by Julie McDonough.

And she still doesn't bother with a quad toe loop, a jump with four rotations, knowing she can please judges using a combination of flair and technical elements.

"It would be better to get the experience of two triple-triples," Flatt said before leaving for Vancouver.

Most like Flatt's chances of qualifying for the Olympics.

Flatt claimed gold at the 2008 world junior championships and has two silvers at nationals. She'll compete next month at the world championships, an Olympic qualifier in Los Angeles.

"The ultimate competition is the Olympics," Flatt said. "It's definitely in the back of my mind. But it's not the main focus right now."

Quad on tap
Broadmoor Skating Club member Jeremy Abbott will attempt a quad toe loop, a jump with four rotations, in Saturday's long program at the Four Continents Championships.

Abbott didn't try a quad last month in winning the U.S. Championships. Then again, he hardly needed it following a near-flawless short program.

"It's not like he's avoiding the quad," said Abbott's coach, Tom Zakrajsek. "As long as you're taking the risk and following through, you get big numbers."

Final tune-up
Four Continents is the last major competition before the world championships, an Olympic qualifier next month in Los Angeles.

Broadmoor member Rachael Flatt and Alissa Czisny must combine for a placement no greater than 13 - for instance, if Czisny is third, Flatt has to be 10th or better - at worlds for the U.S. to qualify the maximum three women for the 2010 Vancouver Games.

On the men's side, Abbott, Broadmoor member Brandon Mroz and Evan Lysacek face a top-two combined placement no greater than 13 for the U.S. to earn three quota spots. Ditto for Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker of The Broadmoor and Caydee Denny and Jeremy Barrett in pairs and ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White; Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates; and Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.