University of Michigan students Meryl Davis and Charlie White won their second straight ice dance title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Saturday, beating Olympic and world silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto for the first time in their careers. That means the United States, long dismissed internationally in the Eurocentric discipline of ice dance, will send not one, but two medal contenders to the Vancouver Olympics.

Davis and White finished with a U.S.-record 222.29 points, a little less than four points in front of Belbin and Agosto. Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates of Ann Arbor were third, likely rounding out the squad for the U.S. Olympics.

"I think it's really a testament to our training to come out and beat an amazing team, especially going into the Olympics," White said. "It feels good, but it feels like the hard work isn't done."

Davis and White had never beaten Belbin and Agosto, who have long dominated U.S. dance, winning five straight titles and the silver medal at last year's worlds. Their first U.S. title for Davis and White came last year in the absence of Belbin and Agosto, who missed nationals because of his back injury.

But Davis and White have been quietly climbing the international ranks — their win at last month's Grand Prix final was the first by an American team — and they now have to be considered equals to their friends and former training partners, as well as the other top couples in the world.

Skating to "Music of the Night" from "The Phantom of the Opera," Davis and White were simply magnificent. For all the fun that is made of ice dance, this was a program that would challenge any athlete, in any sport, and delight theater buffs at the same time.

Davis and White packed so much into 4 minutes that ice dance coaches may as well just give their students a DVD of the program and call it a day. You name a skill, step, turn, twizzle or lift in ice dancing, and they did it. Did it with speed and polish, too.

They were never mismatched or out of sync, even as they changed positions and holds. Don't think that sounds so tough? You try sprinting for four minutes in lockstep with the person next to you. While doing turns every few seconds. And portraying characters and emotion so well Andrew Lloyd Webber would be proud.

One lift in particular made the entire competition worthwhile: while gliding backward on one foot, White flipped Davis over his shoulder so that she was facing the other direction. He then crossed his other leg behind him and she then opened her arms, the only thing keeping her from plunging to the ice his one leg.

The audience was on its feet for the final few seconds of the program, and coaches Igor Shpilband and Marina Zoueva bearhugged behind the boards. Davis and White didn't show much reaction — they were too exhausted.

But when their marks were posted, wide smiles crossed both of their faces and they stood up to wave to the crowd.

Davis and White had won compulsories and the original dance, building up enough of a margin that Belbin and Agosto came into Saturday knowing they likely would finish in second place. Peaking in February is far more important than another U.S. title.

"Natalia is the kind of coach who always says, 'Babies, it's close to well, but not enough.'" Agosto said, referring to coach Natalia Linichuk. "The last few weeks it's been, 'It's extremely close, but now I need super-magical well.' I think we really are coming closer to it.

Belbin and Agosto's "Ave Maria" is a departure from some of the lighter and happier numbers they did earlier in their career, but the somber and dramatic piece is appropriate for a team that's grown together and as individuals. It showed both the high quality of their skating and their ability to tell even the most challenging of stories.

"We asked Natalia (Linichuk) to create a program for us that was more sensitive because it really is a sentimental year for us," Belbin said. "We wanted something that we could put our emotions and feelings into what is most likely our final season."

They set the tone for the program in the very first seconds, doing perfectly synchronized twizzles — fast-moving turns — that they quickly contrasted with long, graceful edges. Their lifts showcased both their strength and athleticism; on their first, she cartwheeled up and over his shoulder into a carry lift.

They never lost energy for a second. But the most mesmerizing thing was their portrayal of the characters. Belbin and Agosto have been at the top of U.S. ice dancing — U.S. skating, really — for so many years that fans feel as if they know them. Watching this program, though, you forgot it was Belbin and Agosto and only saw the woman struggling with her inner demons and the guardian angel trying to save her.

The audience gave them a standing ovation, too, something so meaningful Belbin got choked up just talking about it afterward.

"We haven't had one of those in a long time," Belbin said, as Agosto reached for her hand, "and it felt really good to have one here."

U.S. Figure Skating Championships Ice dancing results

1. Meryl Davis, West Bloomfield, Mich., and Charlie White, Ann Arbor, Mich., 108.76.

2. Tanith Belbin, Kirkland, Quebec, and Ben Agosto, Chicago, 106.60.

3. Emily Samuelson, Novi, Mich., and Evan Bates, Ann Arbor, Mich., 93.73.

4. Kimberly Navarro, Santa Rosa, Calif., and Brent Bommentre, Horsham, Pa., 91.22.

5. Madison Chock, Redondo Beach, Calif., and Greg Zuerlein, Northville, Mich., 88.49.

6. Madison and Keiffer Hubbell, Okemos, Mich., 85.38.

7. Lynn Kriengkrairut, Bismarck, N.D., and Logan Giulietti-Schmitt, Oak Park, Ill., 81.01.

8. Jane Summersett and Todd Gilles, Colorado Springs, Colo., 79.88

9. Trina Pratt, Pueblo, Colo., and Chris Obzansky, Ann Arbor, Mich., 77.13.

10. Shannon Wingle, Kalamazoo, Mich., and Timothy McKernan, Colorado Springs, Colo., 65.95.

11. Stephanie Zastrow, Forest Lake, Mich., and Michael Lueck, Burnsville, Minn., 65.40.

12. Katie Wyble, Export, Pa., and Justin Morrow, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 63.95.

13. Grace Cho, Wilmington, Del., and Dmitry Ponomarev, Moscow, 58.87.

14. Lauren Corry, Springfield, Va., and Alexander Lorello, Gambrills, Md., 54.14.

15. Elizabeth Chan, Naperville, Ill., and Jason Deveikis, Dexter, Mich., 45.08.

Final Results 1. Davis and White, 222.29.

2. Belbin and Agosto, 218.51.

3. Samuelson and Bates, 190.69.

4. Navarro and Bommentre, 186.42.

5. Chock and Zuerlein, 177.48.

6. Hubbell and Hubbell, 173.87

7. Summersett and Gilles, 163.08

8. Kriengkrairut and Giulietti-Schmitt, 156.53

9. Pratt and Obzansky, 156.42

10. Wingle and McKernan, 132.43.

11. Zastrow and Lueck, 124.71.

12. Wyble and Morrow, 123.94.

13. Cho and Ponomarev, 115.12.

14. Corry and Lorello, 113.46.

15. Chan and Deveikis, 88.10.