Abbott wins men’s short program event

Jeremy Abbott has won the short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, edging world champion Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir in one of the better men’s competitions in recent years. Abbott, the reigning U.S. champ, has 87.85 points going into Sunday’s free skate. Lysacek is about four points behind with 83.69, just ahead of Weir (83.55). Adam Rippon, the junior world champion the last two years, is in fourth, but he’s more than 10 points behind Weir. The men have three spots in Vancouver. Earlier Friday, Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett were by far the class in a messy pairs competition. Two-time champs Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker are in seventh after two major errors and a couple of minor bobbles.