PORTLAND, Ore. — Michelle Kwan made sure to collect a few more 6.0 scores before they disappear into figure skating history.
The Torrance native got three perfect marks for her short program Thursday and was ranked first by all nine judges, her first step toward a record-tying ninth U.S. title.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday January 15, 2005 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 30 words Type of Material: Correction
Figure skating scores -- Sasha Cohen's presentation scores were eight 5.8s and one 5.9 in competition Thursday at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. A Sports article Friday transposed those marks.
Radiant in red as she skated to the Adagio from "Spartacus," Kwan drew a standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd at the Rose Garden and padded her career total to 38 perfect scores at the U.S. Figure Skating championships.
"When I get to the kiss-and-cry [area], my job is done, and if I get a 3.1 I'm still happy with my performance," said Kwan, the final skater. "With a 6.0 it's like, 'Oh, cool.' "
Sasha Cohen of Laguna Niguel, who recently moved back to Southern California after two years training in the Northeast, was ranked second by every judge. She put her hand down on the landing of the first jump in her required combination jump but earned eight 5.8s and one 5.9 for presentation.
Jenny Kirk, who trains in El Segundo, was third after a vibrant program to "Chicago."
Kwan and Cohen came dangerously close to colliding in the warmup while Kwan was landing a jump and Cohen was taking off, but Kwan said it didn't bother her. "It's a six-minute warmup and it's intense," she said. "It happens all the time."
Cohen's marks for required elements included one 5.4 but also a 5.8. Her presentation scores were one 5.8 and eight 5.9s.
"I feel like it's the first time this year everything has come together for me," she said. "Nationals is a pretty prestigious event. It would mean a lot to win. But I'm going into these nationals thankful I'm doing what I'm doing."
The women's event came at the end of a trying day as skaters came to grips with the death Wednesday of skater Angela Nikodinov's mother, Dolores.
A tearful but determined Tim Goebel won the men's short program on a tiebreaker over a stirring performance by defending champion Johnny Weir. Each got four first-place votes but Goebel's routine to a Rachmaninov concerto was ranked second by five judges, compared to three second-place rankings for Weir's "Rondo Capriccioso."
Evan Lysacek, who trains in El Segundo, got the other first-place vote and a perfect 6.0 for presentation from judge Doug Williams of Los Angeles. Three-time U.S. champion Michael Weiss fell on the first part of his combination jump and was fifth. The short program is worth one-third of each skater's score.
