Cohen, world champion Kimmie Meissner, Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek are among 11 Olympians who registered to compete at the 2007 national championships, U.S. Figure Skating said Thursday. They automatically get byes into the competition, which is Jan. 21-28 in Spokane, Wash.

Registration indicates a skater plans to compete, but it isn't a guarantee. Skaters had to register for nationals by Sept. 1.

Cohen, the defending U.S. champion, has already said she plans to keep skating through the 2010 Games in Vancouver. But she is skipping the Grand Prix series, and was undecided about nationals and the world championships the last time she spoke with her coach, John Nicks.

``I told her two things. A year away from competitive skating might be good to recharge physically,'' said Nicks, who spoke with Cohen last week. ``But I also said the history of people taking a year off and coming back isn't that strong.''

Cohen has committed to compete at next month's Campbell's Cup, a team competition that will pit her, Meissner and fellow Olympian Emily Hughes against a Japanese squad that includes teenage sensation Mao Asada.

Hughes also registered for nationals, as did Olympic ice dance silver medallists Kingston, Ont.-born Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto. Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov (ice dance) and Rena Inoue and John Baldwin (pairs) are also registered.

Michelle Kwan, who received a medical bye onto the Turin Olympic team but withdrew with an injury, announced Wednesday she is taking the season off to be a full-time student at the University of Denver.