Amelie Lacoste will represent Canada in the women's singles at the 2012 world figure skating championships in Nice, France.

That decision was announced Sunday by Skate Canada, after Lacoste beat Cynthia Phaneuf by percentage points in the Four Continents event at Colorado on Saturday night.

"It wasn't a very strong performance," said Lacoste, in a release from the national body. "I made a lot of mistakes. I'm happy about landing the triple Lutz and the main goal was to get the spot for worlds.

"Now, I can go back home and train without extra pressure."

Ashley Wagner, of the United States won the competition, beating Mao Asada of Japan for the first time in the 20-year-old's career. She finished with a personal best of 192.41.

Lacoste and Phaneuf, meanwhile, handed Skate Canada a headache by finishing in a virtual tie after a battle that was to decide who represents the country at the world championships, starting March 26.

The Delson, Que., resident finished seventh at 147.65 and Phaneuf, of Contrecoeur, Que., was right behind at 147.47. That latter score was well below Phaneuf's personal best of 177.54.

Skate Canada made its decision on Sunday, sending Lacoste, who faces huge pressure to find a way into the top-10 and restore the country's second entry for the 2013 event. Phaneuf had lost that second placing with a poor performance at the 2011 worlds.

And it can be done.

Last year's 10th place finisher in the global event was Elene Gedevanishvili, of Georgia, who put down a 156.24, below Lacoste's best-ever on the international scene of 157.26, set at the 2010 Skate Canada Grand Prix event.

Lacoste won her first Canadian title in January and would, under normal cicumstances, have earned the spot on the worlds team. But worried about getting that top-10 placing at Nice, national skate officials decided to take one more look at both her and Phaneuf in Colorado Springs this weekend.

Phaneuf put in yet-another poor performance and misses the opportunity, even though most observers feel she has the capability of being easily inside the top-10 at worlds if she skates to her capability.

That hasn't happened this year, even with the change of coaches in the late fall to Toronto-based Brian Orser.

"I'm disappointed not to go to worlds," she said, in the release. "It was very close at nationals, and very close here. But I just have to face the reality. It was very close at worlds and very close here.

"Maybe it's just a sign I need to go back home, keep working hard and get better for next year."

Young Alexandra Najarro, of Richmond Hill, Ont., was 13th at Four Continents.