Feb. 14, 2000 10:22 AM AP

By BARRY WILNER

AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) For those who tend to shrug or yawn when they see the same old figure skating results, this year's U.S. Championships might not seem worthy of a second glance.

Actually, they deserve deep examination.

While Michelle Kwan and Michael Weiss repeated as singles champions, the circumstances under which they did so were hardly mainstream. Or dull.

Kwan was challenged severely by America's youth wave and barely held off 15-year-old Sasha Cohen and 14-year-old Sarah Hughes. Weiss, this nation's first serious practitioner of the quad, turned to artistry to keep his crown.

For either to do well at next month's world championships, they must be steadier and, at the same time, more spectacular. In skating, at least, those seeming contradictions go together.

In fairness to Kwan, who won her third straight and fourth overall U.S. title, the skating world tends to judge her against what she has done through the years. And what Kwan has done is win two world championships, an Olympic silver medal and present the kind of beauty and flair few skaters ever approach.

But this was not close to Kwan at her best, understandable considering her hectic schedule that includes being a freshman at UCLA and the growing demands from sponsors and endorsers.

"It's hard to focus all the time on skating," Kwan said. "It doesn't mean I don't love the sport anymore. Sometimes, it's just more businesslike.

"I'm proud of myself just that I was strong this week, that I didn't give an inch."

She won by inches. Kwan, 19, fell in both her short program and free skate. Technically, she wasn't close to Cohen or Hughes.

Nor was she in the realm of the old Kwan, the one that mesmerized the skating world with her 1996 "Salome" routine and generally has continued to do so since.

"Maybe she wasn't quite as ready as usual," coach Frank Carroll said. "This (busy schedule) is new to us, too. We're going to make a few mistakes as we go along. But we have to make this thing work, because she is going to get her education."

Cohen and Hughes got an education in judging. Either of them might have won against a less-accomplished skater. But neither did quite enough to unseat Kwan.

Weiss came even closer to losing his title to local jumping jack Timothy Goebel. After Goebel not only landed the first quadruple jump in nationals history, he added two more in his free skate and Weiss' reign appeared over.

But the 23-year-old Weiss, who has had a rough season that included an ankle injury, turned to the artist within. It was a significant change for him - and a winning one.

Skating to "Carmen," Weiss was almost majestic. It didn't hurt that he hit nine triples, although one was a planned quad toe loop.

"I've been on both sides," said Weiss, who was third at worlds in 1999. "I was there against Todd Eldredge when I came out and I was trying the quads and technically doing maybe more than him, but the judges have shown they like you to skate a complete program. I went back and worked on that, and I made sure I perfected that and really worked extra hard on that.

"Last year was a great title for me to get, but as everybody says, it's always much more tough to defend the title."

Goebel was gracious in defeat, but clearly was stung by not winning with such a formidable technical performance. Until he is able to do more than the tricks, however, his chances of beating Weiss - or Russians Alexei Yagudin and Yevgeny Pluschenko, who have the jumps and the artistry - are slim.

"It's an art, but it's also a sport," said Goebel, 19. "I think I really made great strides this season in improving my artistry, but I have a ways to go. I need time. I'm younger than the other medalists here. I'm going to take the next few years and really develop my artistry."

Two skaters who certainly have done that are pairs champions Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman. Working with renowned coach Tamara Moskvina, they've taken on a Russian look that is very becoming and they could make a big move at worlds in Nice, France.

Expecting ice dance champions Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev to do the same might be asking a bit much. But Tchernyshev is Russian and the duo is improving.

The biggest uncertainty heading to worlds is Cohen's eligibility. Although she is older than Hughes, she does not have the international senior results Hughes does. So while Hughes will go to Nice, Cohen must win a medal at world juniors in three weeks to join Kwan and Hughes on the team.

Otherwise, fourth-place finisher Angela Nikodinov goes.

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