Ilia Malinin and Alysa Liu topped their respective short program standings Thursday as the United States took the lead after the opening day of the three-day World Team Trophy figure skating competition.The United States collected a total of 52 points from the men's and women's short programs and ice dance's rhythm dance, eight points above second-place Japan, at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.France was third with 34 points in the six-team field that also includes Italy, Canada and Georgia.Reigning world champions Malinin and Liu each picked up a maximum 12 points for first place in the men'…READ FULL ARTICLE
