Spokane skating fans could find themselves involved in an "I saw her when" moment during the Smart Ones Skate America ladies' short program tonight.

While most are not familiar with Ann Patrice McDonough, the 17-year-old American is quickly moving up the name-recognition chart. Earlier this month, McDonough won a silver medal at the Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic, a technical free-skate competition. Michelle Kwan won the event, and Sarah Hughes finished third.

So who is this South Korean-born teenager from Colorado Springs, Colo.? She's a 2002 high school graduate and the reigning World Junior champion, whose idea of focusing apparently means cutting out interviews with the press, for now.

Instead, her coach Tom Zakrajsek fielded questions Wednesday afternoon at the Arena.

"I think last year moving up to senior (division) was a new thing for her," Zakrajsek said. "I think that whole experience taught her there needs to be time for her on focusing and preparing. It's still quite new."

Although McDonough is shooting up the ranks, Zakrajsek said he doesn't think his pupil "has expectations to win (Skate America)."

McDonough is scheduled to skate at 9:25 p.m.

Truth or dare

Maybe it was just one of those things, like when someone threatens to quit his job and never goes through with it.

But when local Skate America organizer Toby Steward thinks back to Thursday, when he was delivered the blow that Olympic champion Sarah Hughes had pulled out because of an injury, he said one solution did cross his mind.

"We were at the point of actually thinking about giving refunds to the event," Steward said. "It wasn't discussed with the U.S. Figure Skating Association."

Instead, Steward and the USFSA worked around the clock and landed four-time World champ Michelle Kwan. Steward said although he did not have to pay an appearance fee for the star, Skate America is the most expensive event associated with his 12-year-old Star USA company. For starters, there's the cost of renting the Spokane Arena for one week.

Kevin Twohig, Arena general manager, said a one-week package cost $110,000. Twohig's expenses will run around $94,000.

Nearly 26,000 tickets have been sold for the four-day event. Saturday night is expected to draw the biggest crowds for the men's and women's free skates.

"If the event doesn't pencil out, the buck stops here. . . . and that's no pun," Steward said.

Best suite in Spokane

Who better to get the President's Suite at the newly renovated Davenport Hotel than the president of the U.S. Figure Skating Association?

Actually, president Phyllis Howard was given the key card to the 14th-floor Governor's Suite. The neighboring Presidential Suite is being used as a hospitality room.

"It's just lovely." said Howard, who checked in Wednesday afternoon. "From the looks of it here (lobby), I'm dying to see the rest of the hotel."

Not passing judgment

Michelle Kwan is taking a wait-and-see approach to the interim judging system. Well, sort of.

When asked her opinion of the new system, where judges' marks will be done anonymously and randomly by computer, Kwan said, "I wouldn't want to criticize the new judging system because it hasn't occurred yet. You'll have to ask that same question after I compete.

"The judging system has been the same for 100 years. The way I look at it, it's always been like this. You have to look at not the system, but who's actually in the system."

Eldredge applies for nationals

Three-time Olympian Todd Eldredge will work Skate America as a television analyst this weekend, but he could be back on the ice competing.

Despite retiring from Olympic-level skating after the Salt Lake City Olympics, Eldredge is keeping his eligibility and has applied to compete at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in January in Dallas.

Richard Callaghan, Eldredge's longtime coach, said the six-time U.S. champion entered the nationals "to keep his options open."

It doesn't necessarily mean he'll end up competing, Callaghan said.

"It's strictly paperwork as of now," Callaghan told the Detroit Free Press.

Facts and figures

Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi will be signing autographs on the first level of Nordstrom from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday. . . . Today's FanFest autograph lineup at the Davenport is American Matthew Savoie at 10 a.m., American ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto at noon and Washington's own 1984 Olympic silver medalist Rosalynn Sumners at 3 p.m. . . . Prize money for Skate America ranges from $30,000 for first-place finishers to $3,000 for fifth place. . . . Skate America will be aired on tape delay over two weekends. The free dance and ladies' free skate will be shown from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (PDT) Sunday on ABC. The pairs' and men's short programs will be aired from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday on ESPN. The remaining competition will be shown Nov. 3 on ABC.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.