Mariah Bell topped the short program at a Skate America like no other with a clean performance in front of no ticketed spectators at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Friday.
Bell, 24, landed a double Axel, triple flip-triple toe loop combination and a triple Lutz in her short program. She edged 2018 U.S. Olympian and national champion Bradie Tennell by 3.19 points.
Audrey Shin, the 16-year-old, 2019 U.S. junior silver medalist in her Grand Prix debut, is a surprising third at 69.77.
Bell is looking to notch the biggest win of her career.