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Kostornaia leads Olympic champ Zagitova at Grand Prix Finals

Posted December 06, 2019 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Russia's Alena Kostornaia competes in the women's short program during the figure skating Grand Prix finals at the Palavela ice arena, in Turin, Italy, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) The Associated Press

TURIN, Italy (AP) - Alena Kostornaia led a Russian sweep of the top three positions in the women's short program at the figure skating Grand Prix Finals on Friday, with Olympic champion Alina Zagitova second.

The 16-year-old Kostornaia, who's in her first senior season, was the only skater with a clean landing on a triple axel and scored 85.45 points to take the lead ahead of Saturday's free skate.

Zagitova scored 79.60 for second after a clean program, though she doesn't have the triple axel in her repertoire.

Anna Shcherbakova was third on 78.27.

Kostornaia and Shcherbakova have stepped up to the senior level this season, along with Alexandra Trusova, who placed fifth after a fall, finishing just behind fourth-placed Bradie Tennell of the United States.

All four of the Russians in the Grand Prix Finals share the same coach, Eteri Tutberidze.

Sui Wenjing and Han Cong became the first Chinese duo in a decade to win the pairs gold medal at the Grand Prix Finals, beating compatriots Peng Cheng and Jin Yang.

Two-time world champions Sui and Han scored a total of 221.69 to win, keeping up a winning streak in competitions going back to the start of last season.

Peng and Jin were second on 204.27 after posting the best score in the free skate to recover from a disappointing fifth in Thursday's short program.

Anastasia Mishina and Alexander Galliamov placed third for Russia on 203.13.

Earlier, French ice dancers Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron took the lead in the rhythm dance.

Skating a program with a 1980s retro theme, the Olympic silver medalists scored 83.83 as they aim to remain unbeaten this season.

Last year's Grand Prix Finals winner, the U.S. pair of Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, was second on 82.72 after their Marilyn Monroe-themed skate.

The other American pair of Madison Chock and Evan Bates were third with less than a one-point advantage over two Russian pairs.

The women's and ice dance competitions both conclude on Saturday.

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Russia's Anna Shcherbakova competes in the women's short program during the figure skating Grand Prix finals at the Palavela ice arena, in Turin, Italy, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) The Associated Press

France's Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron compete in the Ice Dance ' Rhythm Dance program during the figure skating Grand Prix finals at the Palavela ice arena, in Turin, Italy, Friday, June 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) The Associated Press

Alena Kostornaia of Russia performs in the ladies short program during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Sapporo, northern Japan, Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Toru Hanai) The Associated Press

China's Wenjing Sui and Cong Han compete in the pairs free skating during the figure skating Grand Prix finals at the Palavela ice arena, in Turin, Italy, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) The Associated Press

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