Jeremy Barrett and Caydee Denney - Champions

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U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett perform in the pairs free skate at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Cleveland Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009. Denney and Barrett finished second.
Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett celebrate after their performance in the pairs free skate during the AT&T US Figure Skating Championships.
Denney and Barrett had the cleanest performance of the day, not appearing to have any trouble with any of the elements. They even did a throw triple flip, a jump most couples don’t even bother trying because the takeoff on it is so awkward. Their side-by-side jumps were effortlessly in sync — truly impressive considering they’ve only been skating together since June.

The pair skated together briefly two years ago, then split when Denney decided she wanted to try training in Colorado. She moved with her mother and sister while her father stayed in Florida, and the separation ultimately proved to be too much for the family.

Denney returned to Florida in June, and quickly reunited with Barrett.

“Last summer, I wasn’t actually skating pairs. So I don’t know what I would have said,” Denney said, drawing laughter when she was asked if she could have ever imagined this last summer. “Things just worked out. ... Jeremy and I have picked up very quickly, and we skate very naturally together.”

So why did they finish second? Their program didn’t have nearly the flair that McLaughlin and Brubaker’s did, and they still need a little polish on the details.

Give them another few months together, though, and it will come.

“We’ve only been together six or seven months, so the ultimate goal is a year from now,” Barrett said. “As hard as we worked getting here, we’re only going to work harder next year.”

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