The Japanese Ladies took the lead in the Ladies short program at

The Japanese Ladies took the lead in the Ladies short program at the 2011 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships on Saturday. Miki Ando held onto her overnight lead to win her first Four Continents title with a personal best score on Sunday.

Ando followed up a near flawless short program with a free skate that earned the top score of 134.76 points, finishing over five points ahead of rival and reigning world champion Mao Asada with 201.34.

Defending champion Mao, who also placed second behind Ando at the nationals in December, completed a triple axel and had 196.30 points. She was followed in third place by American Mirai Nagasu, who had 189.46.

USA’s Mirai Nagasu’s short program

USA’s Mirai Nagasu’s long program

Ladies medal ceremony at Four Continents Championships 2011
1st Miki Ando (JPN), 2nd Mao Asada (JPN), 3rd Mirai Nagasu (USA)

You know Mirai is going to be the next Olympic champion! See our interview with her, when she represented the USA in Vancouver! She’s only 17!