Malinin leads Skate America after short program

Los Angeles: Ilia Malinin returned to competition with an ethereal new short program that put him in the lead at the Skate America figure skating Grand Prix in Everett, Washington, on Friday.

The American, back in action for the first time since he won a third straight world title last March, showed a bit of rust, landing a soaring quadruple flip and a triple Axel but putting a hand down on a quadruple Lutz.

But with a score of 96.74 points he nevertheless easily out-distanced Japan’s Sota Yamamoto, who was in second place on 91.29.

Mexico’s Donovan Carrillo was in third on 86.49 heading into Saturday’s free skate.