Spokane, Washington (Reuters) - Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett won the pairs title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Saturday, securing a spot on the U.S. team for next month's Vancouver Olympics. Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig took second place ahead of former champions Rena Inoue and John Baldwin to also book a ticket to Vancouver. Last year's runners-up, Denney and Barrett, led after the short program and sealed their first title with an impeccable and energetic free skate that had the crowd on its feet. Meanwhile, two-time champions Rockne Brubaker and Keauna McLaughlin left the ice in tears and their Olympic fate in the hands of a selection committee after a crushing fifth-place finish. While winners at the U.S. Championships are generally rewarded with coveted Olympic spots, the runners-up do not necessarily adhere to this rule. A nine-member selection committee has the final say and can weigh many factors, including past performances and results, leaving a small opening for McLaughlin and Brubaker to sneak into the picture. McLaughlin and Brubaker came into the championship as favorites for a third consecutive title, but a disastrous short program dropped them to seventh, leaving too much ground to make up. An improved free skate moved the pair up to fifth, but it was later revealed that it wasn't enough to impress the judges. "It's looking at your resume and what you're able to do MBT Women's Sandals Shoes, but it's also about the execution when you're on the line MBT Men's Sandals Shoes; all of that is taken into consideration," said Brubaker to reporters regarding the Olympic lineup. The final determination will be made after Sunday's free skate. Reigning U.S. champion Jeremy Abbott, who skates in a field that includes world champion Evan Lysacek and flamboyant three-time national champion Johnny Weir, competes in the men's free skate. (Written by Steve Keating in Vancouver; Editing by Alastair Himmer.)
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