In the fall of 2006, Caroline Zhang and Ashley Wagner went to the JGP. Each won their two events and they finished 1-2 at the JGPF. After 2007 Nationals, Caroline Zhang, Mirai Nagasu and Ashley Wagner went to Junior Worlds and swept the podium there. In the fall of 2007, Mirai Nagasu went to the JGP and won both of her events and the JGPF. All three girls were established stars at the junior level and clearly on the fast track when they moved up to senior for 2008 Nationals. It is definitely not the same situation that we have with Alysa Liu now, who has no international record other than a limited one at the Advanced Novice level.
When Nagasu, Flatt and Wagner finished 1-2-3 at 2008 Worlds, the first two weren't old enough to go. Flatt, Zhang and Nagasu were sent to JW and they swept the podium again, in that order.
At Senior Worlds 2008, Ashley Wagner, Kimmie Meissner and Beatrisa Liang represented the US. But 2008 was the heyday of Mao Asada, YuNa Kim and Carolina Kostner, at a time when Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohen had left a huge vacancy at the top in US figureskating.
Kimmie Meissner had won Worlds in 2006, but was 4th in 2007 and faded to 7th in 2008 as late growth scuttled her skating career. Beatrisa Liang was 10th, and Ashley Wagner 17th at their first Worlds.