Skater Jeremy Abbott earns U.S. title

CLEVELAND — The results flashed and Jeremy Abbott jumped to his feet, holding up both index fingers.

No doubt about it, Abbott is No. 1.

Abbott won his first title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Sunday, ending the five-year stranglehold Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir have had on the top spot. It is the second major title in as many months for Abbott, who won the Grand Prix final in December.

"I felt awful leading up to this event, I felt awful today, I felt awful on the ice," he said afterward, smiling. "But I was able to control myself and do what I needed to do. I'm really relieved that it's over, and I'm so excited that I won."

Abbott finished with 241.89 points, more than 12 points ahead of training mate Brandon Mroz. Lysacek, winner of the last two U.S. titles, dropped to third after a surprisingly conservative and faulty program. An even bigger disappointment was Johnny Weir, who was fifth after two dismal performances and could miss worlds for the first time since 2003.

"I completely take primary ownership of my illness and the fact I wasn't prepared," said Weir, whose preparation was compromised by a severe case of the flu over the holidays.

Weir lost 8 pounds in one day while he was ill.

Reminded that Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to victory in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals when he was sick, Weir said, "It may sound like an excuse, but you have to remember that Michael Jordan had a whole team around him. I'm a single, skinny, sparkly boy, standing by myself."

Abbott, the U.S. junior champion in 2005, turned these nationals into his personal party. Though many have complained that the new judging system has stripped skating of its beauty and artistry, Abbott showed it can still be done.

Other events

• Skier Lindsey Vonn of Vail, Colo., managed to expand her lead in the overall World Cup standings despite finishing 10th in a giant slalom in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, in which Kathrin Zettel led an Austrian sweep. Michaela Kirchgasser was second Elisabeth Goergl was third.

Vonn leads the overall standings with 882 points, 72 more than second-place Maria Riesch of Germany.

• Julien Lizeroux edged Jean-Baptiste Grange in a 1-2 French finish at a men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbuehel, Austria, in which American Bode Miller went out early in the first run after missing a gate.

Swiss skier Daniel Albrecht remained in stable condition but was still in an induced coma, three days after injuring his brain and lungs in a crash during training in Kitzbuehel.

• Tucker Fredricks, a Salt Lake City resident, gained his first World Cup speedskating victory this season when he took the men's 500 meters in Kolomna, Russia.

• Joe Parsons of Yakima beat Justin Hoyer of Ellsworth, Wis., in the snowmobile freestyle at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo.

Snowboarder Shaun White of Carlsbad, Calif., became the first athlete to win back-to-back Winter X titles in the superpipe, edging Kevin Pearce of Norwich, Vt. White, 22, has earned nine gold medals and 14 overall, both Winter X records.