World champions Knierim, Frazier win US pairs figure skating title

Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea were third.

SAN FRANCISCO (Web Desk) – Reigning world champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier reclaimed the US Figure Skating pairs crown on Saturday, a year after missing the national championships over Covid concerns.

The pair, who couldn t defend their 2021 national title last year after Frazier tested positive for Covid, dominated again this week in San Jose, California.

Their rousing free skate garnered 146.01 points for a total of 227.97 -- 31.11 points ahead of silver medallists Emily Chan and Spencer Howe s 196.86 total.

Ellie Kam and Danny O Shea were third.

The ice dance crown went to another veteran duo in Madison Chock and Evan Bates.

They won their second straight and fourth national title overall -- the first coming back in 2015.

The three-time world medallists finished with a total of 229.75.

Caroline Green and Michael Parsons were second with 207.46.

The San Jose venue was where Chock and Bates made their very first appearance in the US championships -- finishing fifth in 2012.

"As sport evolves, you see more longevity from athletes in different sports," 30-year-old Chock said. "It s a great accomplishment for us to be a part of that group of people. We love working hard and that s something that drives us in our career."

Chock said it was too soon to say if they d be aiming for a fourth Olympic appearance in Italy in 2026.

"Right now we re fully committed to our own process," Chock said. "We don t know what the next four years hold, but we re committed to each other and to our goals."

The veteran winners were a contrast to the young stars emerging in individual competition.

World junior champion Isabeau Levito, 15, won the women s title on Friday and 18-year-old "Quadgod" Ilia Malinin -- who electrified the Grand Prix circuit this season with the first landed quadruple axel jump in competition -- was leading the men s competition going into Sunday s free skate.