Feb. 10, 2000 8:07 PM AP

By NANCY ARMOUR

AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) Naomi Lang gasped and covered her mouth with her hand as the marks flashed across the scoreboard.

A second U.S. title in ice dance and one perfect 6.0 for presentation, despite an unexpected little slip.

Well, this is ice dancing after all, and perfection doesn't always have to be perfect.

"The judge gave us credit for the second mark. It is totally Naomi's," said Peter Tchernyshev, who slipped on the couple's last spin in the final seconds of the program.

"I just lost the concentration," he said. "I was emotionally overwhelmed."

And that was before the marks flashed. The couple got a 6.0 for presentation from the last judge, and the rest of their marks Thursday night ranged from 5.5 to 5.9.

"It's your childhood dream to get a 6.0, and for that to come true this week is so special to us," Lang said. "It's just an unbelievable feeling."

Jamie Silverstein and Justin Pekarek could say the same thing. In their first season as seniors after dominating the junior ranks last year, they're making the jump look easy.

Skating a sexy program that showed off their youth and playfulness, the couple finished second with marks ranging from 5.5 to 5.8. Deborah Koegel and Oleg Fediukov finished third.

"It's incredible," Silverstein said. "We really wanted this and we really have been working hard."

Despite the impressive program, they're still not on the same level as Lang and Tchernyshev. The couple skated a passionate, sometimes anguished program to Sarah Brightman's "Anytime, Anywhere," filled with innovative movements and intricate twists and turns that showcased their superior edge quality and speed.

While many of the other teams seemed stuck on slow-motion or boring, Lang and Tchernyshev flowed across the ice. Their long hours of ballet training showed, with every move clearly defined and smooth, seamless transitions in between.

Their experience showed, too. The couple is in its fourth season and they showed flashes of the unison usually seen only in European couples.

"That's the best we've ever skated our free dance," Lang said. "We had a really fabulous time out there."

Silverstein and Pekarek had the most energetic program of the night. Skating to two Tori Amos songs and music from the "Great Expectations" soundtrack, their program was filled with difficult lifts that drew oohs and aahs from the crowd. In their most unique move, Pekarek cradled Silverstein while he hydroplaned, supporting her on his thighs as he dipped closer and closer to the ice.

The audience was so impressed it gave them a standing ovation.

"It was like a whole makeover to step up to seniors," Pekarek said. "I think we did it pretty well."