Four Utahns are among nearly 300 figure skaters who will compete this week at the 2011 U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships in Salt Lake City.

Coalville's Colby Judd, Layton's Mitchell Friess, Ogden's Rachel Crawford and West Jordan's Kendrick Weston are expected among the athletes who will contend for national titles at two skill levels — intermediate and juvenile — and the chance to move up the figure skating hierarchy.

The four-day competition starts Wednesday at the Salt Lake City Sports Complex.

Defending Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek and national champion Rachael Flatt are among the skaters who have competed at junior nationals in the past, illustrating how some of the most talented athletes at this level might one day become senior-level superstars.

Athletes will compete in the singles, pairs and dance disciplines, just like in the Olympics.

Winners are typically skilled enough to later move up a level in the U.S. Figure Skating structure — from juvenile to intermediate, or from intermediate into the senior ranks. The senior ranks include the novice, junior and senior levels, whose championships are conducted at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Organizers are expecting some 5,000 fans to attend the event.

mcl@sltrib.com