U.S. National Championships--Senior Free Skate and Final Results

U.S. National Championships--Junior Free Skate and Final Results

U.S. National Championships--Collegiate Final Results

Feb. 24, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Miami University's synchronized skating teams rounded out their stint at the U.S. National Championships on Saturday (Feb. 23) at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The RedHawk collegiate team captured its fourth straight national title, while the senior team earned silver and the junior team finished in fourth place in their respective divisions.

The collegiate team won their fourth consecutive national title by nearly 10 points, amassing a score of 107.46 in the free skate competition. It was a season-best score for the RedHawks, who captured the program's 10th collegiate national title in the last 12 years. The University of Delaware finished second with a score of 97.77, while Michigan State placed third with a score of 87.11. This was the collegiate team's fourth competition and fourth win of the season.

Miami's senior team turned in a solid performance in their free skate to win silver at the U.S. National Championships. After finishing second in the short program on Thursday, the RedHawks earned a score of 130.92 with their free skate program to finish less than six points behind the national champion Haydenettes in the free skate. Miami earned a combined score of 201.26 for the competition, the first time the RedHawks have eclipsed the 200-point mark this season. The Haydenettes posted a score of 213.37 for the competition, while the Crystallettes finished in third with a score of 194.80.

Sitting in second place after the short program, Miami's junior team recorded a fifth-place finish in the free skate, dropping them to fourth overall with a combined score of 163.49. Seeking its first medal, the junior team finished just 4.76 points behind the bronze-medalist Lexettes. The Chicago Jazz captured the national title with a score of 184.15, while the Colonials finished in second with a score of 170.93.

Miami's junior team will compete at the Junior World Challenge Cup in Rouen, France, March 6-8 before rounding out its season at the Zagreb Snowflakes Trophy in Zagreb, Croatia, March 14-15. The senior team has a month to prepare for the ISU World Synchronized Championships, which will be held March 28-30 in Budapest, Hungary. Last year, the RedHawks made history by placing second at the 2007 World Synchronized Skating Championships in London, Ontario. They were the first team in U.S. history to earn a medal at the World Synchronized Skating Championships, grabbing the silver by placing third in the short program and second in the free skate.