Tchernyshev, who came to the United States from Russia six years ago, is scheduled to get his U.S. citizenship at the end of the month. He's skated with Naomi Lang since 1997, a partnership that has produced three straight national crowns.

	Lang and Tchernyshev even earned a perfect 6.0 for presentation despite several mis-steps during their free dance.

Lang and Tchernyshev, now under the guidance of former world champion Sasha Zhulin, even earned a perfect 6.0 for presentation despite several mis-steps during their free dance Thursday night. Zhulin's influence showed in a program to music representing the seasons; Zhulin and Maya Usova, who won a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics and a silver in 1994, also used it.

"I am representing the air," said Lang, a native of Allegan, Mich., "and Peter is representing the storm. He is manipulating me through the whole program and I basically am trying to do everything he wants me to do."

In addition to the 6.0, however, they also received a 5.2 for technique.

Second place went to rising stars Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto. While the usual movement in ice dance standings is glacial, Belbin and Agosto followed something of a recent American trend. They were the third U.S. junior champs in the last four years to move into seniors the next season and finish second.

Their energetic program, to "Alexandros," was dramatic and earned high marks for such newcomers. It also proved their victory at the Junior Grand Prix finals last month was no fluke.

Belbin is a Canadian citizen, but has been told she is eligible to represent the United States at March's world championships. The United States has two dance spots at worlds.