There may only be nine teams in the ice dance event at the US Figure Skating Championships, but the depth that is represented in the top six is tremendous. These six could all finish in the top 20 at Worlds, and the two top teams here have both won the US title before. Based on what we’ve seen this season, the drama will come in the fight for gold and the fight for bronze, which also means the fight for the third Worlds spot.
US Nationals preview
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GOLD Madison Chock/Evan Bates - The last time they won this event was the last time this event was in Greensboro, and perhaps there will be some good luck charm vibes here this week. But the reason they are the slight favorites here has more to do with the work they have put in since moving to Montreal a couple of years ago. The material they are working with this season is also some of the best in their career. They come into Nationals with the momentum of a silver medal finish at Grand Prix Final.
SILVER Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue - The two-time defending champions took medals at the past two World Championships. But this season has posed challenges that they didn’t quite have last year - the two programs they’ve put out have been strong but not yet spectacular, and they’ve spent a good bit of the past few months retooling them to get them into their comfort zone.
BRONZE Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker - After moving up to ninth last season at Worlds, Hawayek/Baker were looking to make some moves this season. But things just haven’t gelled the way that they’ve wanted them to so far this season. It’s been a season of near misses that have come on the heels of mistakes that have nickeled and dimed their base values. The rhythm dance is where they have made the most improvements, and the fight for bronze may very well be decided there.
4. Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko - This may be their year to get that berth to Worlds, but even if it isn’t, the momentum for them is there. They have started to establish themselves as a team with a different look, a different set of sensibilities and intensity than other American teams. It will likely be close between them and Hawayek/Baker - the levels will tell the tale.
5. Lorraine McNamara/Quinn Carpenter - Fourth at Nationals last season, McNamara/Carpenter continues to mature as a team, but injury stalled their progress this season, and they didn’t really get their season going until late November.
6. Caroline Green/Michael Parsons - The brand new team among the top six have had a busy season, competing five times internationally and putting down some solid performances already. They were seventh at both of their Grand Prix events, and took bronze at their two most recent Challengers events.
7. Eva Pate/Logan Bye - Another new team this season, Pate/Bye have shown a lot of potential in domestic events this season. They took gold at the US Dance Final to qualify for Nationals - Bye was the junior bronze medalist two years ago with former partner Chloe Lewis.
8. Livvy Shilling/Alexander Petrov - The last time we saw Livvy Shilling, she was competing in the ladies’ event at the 2017 US Championships. She makes her Nationals dance debut this week with Alexander Petrov, and they were second at the US Dance FInal.
9. Bailey Melton/Ryan O’Donnell - 12th at last year’s Nationals, Melton/O’Donnell took third at the US Dance Final to qualify for this event.