Gracie Gold Leads US to 1st Place at World Team Trophy

TOKYO (AP) — Gracie Gold won the women's short program at the World Team Trophy on Thursday to lead the United States to a five-point lead over Japan and Russia on the first day of competition.

Gold earned 71.26 points to edge world champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia, who fell on the landing of a triple axel but finished second with 70.93 points. Elena Radionova of Russia was third with 68.77 points.

Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan topped the men's short program with 96.27 points to place comfortably ahead of Han Yan of China, who had 87.13 points. American champion Jason Brown was third with 86.48 points.

The event, which runs through Sunday, features the six best national teams among ISU member nations. Each team is composed of eight skaters.

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