Davis and White win US ice dance crown

Meryl Davis and Charlie White won their second straight US ice dancing title Saturday, this one coming with the extra satisfaction of a victory over Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.

Davis and White won their first national title last year with Belbin and Agosto, the five-time national titlists and 2006 Olympic silver medallists, sidelined by injury.

But with the Vancouver Olympics beckoning, Davis and White showed they had what it took against their illustrious compatriots, winning all three phases of the ice dance competition and capping their win with a dramatic free dance to music from "Phantom of the Opera."

They garnered 108.76 points for the free dance for a total of 222.29.

"There's nothing quite like skating your best," Davis said. "After so many days and weeks and years training so hard, to put in a performance like that in front of a home crowd, is just amazing."

Belbin and Agosto were second, earning 106.60 for their free dance for a total of 218.51. Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates were third with an overall total of 190.69 points.

The United States will send three ice dance teams to the Vancouver Olympics next month.

America has just two Olympic berths in ladies' figure skating, lending extra drama to Saturday night's ladies free skate for the national title.

Sasha Cohen, the 2006 Olympic silver medallist who hadn't competed since earning bronze at the the 2006 World Championships, showed all of her old grace in the short programme, after which she was lying second behind Mirai Nagasu.