^^I don't think anyone has ever deserved a standing ovation more than Gracie (although Joannie at the 2010 Olympics is also waaaay up there). That 12th place is the biggest success story of the night. I mentioned this in the competition thread, but given all that she's been through and conquered, to me, regardless of how the jumps went, I saw that 4 minutes as a victory lap, and I think that's why I was in tears from the very start.
I'm not actually sure, but if she continues to progress and does well at summer competitions, she could get a SA host spot, which would allow her to skip Regionals & Sectionals.
Does anyone know what she needs to place do to get funding and to not have to do Sectionals/Regionals next year? I know Megan Wessenberg came in ...17th? 19th? at Nationals one year and got the Skate America host pick based on how well she did in summer comps.
I'm not actually sure, but if she continues to progress and does well at summer competitions, she could get a SA host spot, which would allow her to skip Regionals & Sectionals.