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Under the microscope of the Olympic selectors
in the last event before the team for Pyeongchang is picked,
in-form teenager Tennell executed flawlessly in San Jose,
California.
Tennell arrived at the championships as one to watch after
finishing third at Skate America last month and she did not
disappoint, notching the highest ever U.S. championships short
program score of 73.79 points, ahead of Nagasu's 73.09.
"I didn't even know that," the 19-year-old said in a
post-routine interview. "My expectations were just to skate a
clean program. I just ignored the whole Olympics aspect of it
and skated how I know how."
Nagasu, meanwhile, failed to stick her signature jump in a
nervous start to what she hopes will be Olympic redemption but
still recovered to challenge Tennell.
The 24-year-old wept openly after being overlooked for the 2014
American team for Sochi, despite finishing third at the U.S.
championships that year.
Four years after that crushing disappointment, Nagasu entered
this year's championships with the distinction of being only the
second American after Tonya Harding to land a triple Axel in
international competition.
After a nervous warm-up, Nagasu started her routine with the
triple Axel but stumbled upon landing, although she stayed on
her feet. She regrouped, however, and was rewarded with the
highest technical score of the night.
"I think I did a great job. To go down in history is all I've
ever wanted," said Nagasu, who makes no secret of her desire to
atone for 2014.
"I wish I had the mental ability of (multiple gold medal-winning
swimmer) Michael Phelps but I think my journey has been about
getting up... I'm so proud to still be here today."
Tennell and Nagasu are well clear of third-placed Karen Wang on
69.48, with triple national champion Ashley Wagner languishing
down in fifth place on 65.94.
"I've head a really mental season, I'm not going to lie about
that," said Wagner, referring to her recent mediocre form.
"This was solid. You can lose an event in the short program and
my main focus was to get through this, not get too far behind
and get myself a close enough distance to make a real killing in
the long."
The ladies' event concludes on Friday with the long program.
The first three finishers are not guaranteed of selection, as
Nagasu discovered in 2014, but know a strong finish will be hard
to ignore.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina)
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