Eldredge Prevails In Short Program

Todd Eldredge did the expected Tuesday night, easily winning the short program on opening night at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. If he stays on course in Thursday’s free skate, the 26-year-old Eldredge will have his fifth national title.

The 1996 world champion from Chatham, Mass., placed first with all nine judges. Standing second after the short program, worth 33 percent of the total score, was Michael Weiss, last year’s runner-up, followed by 1993-94 U.S. champ Scott Davis and Shepherd Clark.

Eldredge, along with Canada’s Elvis Stojko and Russia’s Ilia Kulik, is the front-runner for Olympic gold.