Kwan Has Early Lead; Punsalan-Swallow Win Dance

Michelle Kwan, looking the part of the mature star, also had the look of a champion Friday night, winning the short program in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod Swallow won their third ice dance title in five years when they edged rivals Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur by winning the free dance. Both advance to the world championships in Edmonton in March.

Punsalan and Swallow, winners in 1991 and 1994 and 15th in the ‘94 Olympics, skated a torrid tango and the husband and wife team finished with a kiss.

Kwan, 15, had a clean, well-balanced routine that placed her first with seven of the nine judges. Her program wasn’t particularly memorable, but neither were those of her main rivals, defending champion Nicole Bobek and Tonia Kwiatkowski.

Actually, the toughest jumps were done by Sydne Vogel, the 1995 junior champion, who moved up to seniors this week. While Kwan, Kwiatkowski and Bobek landed triple toe loops as their optional jump, Vogel nailed the harder triple flip.