Rachael Flatt captured the gold medal at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on a night Sasha Cohen's bid to make her third Olympics came to a crashing halt.
Cohen was second following Thursday's short program, behind 2008 national champion Mirai Nagasu. The 17-year-old Flatt overtook both skaters with a dazzling display Saturday night, compiling an amazing 130.76 points in the free skate to win the competition going away.
Flatt, who came in ranked ninth in the world, finished with 200.11 points, followed by Nagasu (188.78) and Ashley Wagner (184.70).
Although the nine-member selection committee had yet to name its participants for next month's Olympics, it's likely to be Flatt and 16-year-old Nagasu. The Olympic team was set to be named later Saturday night.
Cohen, who was competing for the first time since the 2006 world championships, ended wtih 174.28 points. The 2006 Olympic silver medalist withdrew from a pair of grand prix events due to a calf injury, but returned strong Thursday night. It was not to be two nights later for the 25-year-old, who was nationals champion in 2006.
Flatt, the 2008 world junior champion and the nationals silver medalist the last two years, entered Saturday barely behind Cohen.
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