Figure Skating: Plenty of Sochi hopefuls at US finals

Boston: Reigning world ice dance champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White and two-time defending champion Ashley Wagner are among favorites to qualify for Sochi when the US figure skating championships begin Thursday.

A month before the global showdown in Russia, the Americans have several contenders and no huge favorites in key events at the Olympic qualifying event in Boston. Davis and White are two-time world champions and training partners with reigning Olympic gold medal duo Tessa Moir and Scott Virtue of Canada, with those two expected to contend for gold once again at Sochi. Wagner, 22, finished second in the 2012 ISU Grand Prix Final at Sochi and was third in last month`s ISU Grand Prix Final at Fukuoka, behind Japanese winner Mao Asada and Russian teen Julia Lipnitskaia. Last October, Wagner spoke out against Russian laws that have aroused ire from the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender community regarding public expression of support for homosexuality. "I have gay family members and a lot of friends in the LGBT community," Wagner said. "I have such a firm stance on this. I believe we should all have equal rights, and I also do not support the legislation in Russia. "At the same time, it is not my place to go into Russia and tell them how to run their country. I believe the best way for you to show your support for the (LGBT community) is to speak out about it." USA Figure Skating plans to name its roster for the Sochi Olympics on Sunday. The Americans will send three women and three ice dance duos and two men and two pairs to Russia next month. The women`s and pairs short programmes will be skated Thursday with the men`s and ice dance short programmes on Friday. Women`s, pairs and ice dance titles will be decided Saturday with the men`s crown to be determined on Sunday. American Evan Lysacek gave up on his bid to defend the men`s Olympic gold medal last month because of a torn labrum in his left hip. Defending US men`s champion Max Aaron and Jeremy Abbott, ninth at Vancouver, will be men`s favorites along with hometown hero Ross Miner, whose routine is based on the host city`s coping and recovery after last year`s Boston Marathon bombings. Teen standouts Gracie Gold, Christian Gao and Agnez Zawadzki will try to qualify on the women`s side.