Bradie Tennell once again topped the U.S. Figure Skating Championships short program. Can she hold on to dethrone 14-year-old Alysa Liu in Friday’s free skate?
Tennell, the 2018 U.S. champion, skated clean for the highest women’s short score in nationals history (78.96 points). Later, the defending champion Liu turned out of her triple Axel landing and tallied 75.40 for second place.
Last year, Liu overcame a short-program deficit to Tennell to become the youngest U.S. champion in history.
Gracie Gold, at her first nationals in three years after overcoming mental-health struggles, erred on her jumps and is in 13th place of 18 skaters.