Skating

Ailing Russian leads after short program

Irina Slutskaya, still feeling the effects of a heart ailment, edges Sasha Cohen to enter tonight's final in first.

MOSCOW - Breathing heavily and weakened by a heart ailment Friday, Irina Slutskaya took the lead after the short program at the figure skating world championships.

She beat American Sasha Cohen by 1.47 points and led by 2.83 in the overall standings, which combine the short program and 25 percent of the qualifying round score.

Michelle Kwan finished third to stay within reach of her sixth world title. After a disappointing seventh in qualifying, Kwan was fifth, 6.4 behind.

"I feel really tired," said Slutskaya, who sat out last season because of an inflamed heart lining and still takes medication for the condition.

Italy's Carolina Kostner finished fourth in the short program and stood third overall, 5.34 points behind Slutskaya. Japan's Miki Ando was seventh in the short program and stood fourth overall, 5.65 points behind Slutskaya.

Russians Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov won their second straight title in ice dancing. Americans Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto were second, the first U.S. medal in the event in 20 years.

Ukraine's Elena Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov were third.

Slutskaya, the 2002 world champion, and Cohen gave energetic programs that included spins more demanding and eye-catching than Kwan's, prowess they likely will emphasize in tonight's final free skate.

Slutskaya's only significant flaw was a loss of balance on her opening triple lutz. Her dramatic moves counted for points, but Slutskaya added some drama that didn't with a long delay in starting after her name was called.

She remained by the rail, taking several heavy breaths, a reminder to the crowd of her heart condition.

Cohen was penalized on a triple flip and for skating past the end of her music.

"It's so frustrating because the last spin was going so well and I was just doing it for too long," said Cohen, who has never won a world title.

"(Tonight), I'm already ready for it right now. I want to go out there and nail everything, no question."

Kwan's free program has fewer of the technically demanding jumps and combinations that are rewarded in the new scoring system. No matter how well she skates tonight, Kwan's routine most likely won't have enough potential points built into it for her to prevail if Slutskaya and Cohen also skate well.

The scoring system has been in use at Grand Prix events for two years. But Kwan has stayed off that circuit, and these world championships are the American's first competition under the system. Her lack of familiarity did not pose a problem Friday, she said.

"Of course, it was new for me, but I just skated. And there is only so much you can worry about," she said. "I have a lot to pick up before the long program, and this was a learning experience for me."

Navka and Kostomarov faltered at the end when Kostomarov appeared briefly off-balance. Belbin and Agosto won higher technical marks but finished second.

"This is probably the most pressure we have skated under," Belbin said. "It was a great achievement to overcome that to peak throughout and enjoy our performance."

The Canadian-born Belbin will not become a U.S. citizen until 2007, meaning they will not be able to compete next year at the Olympics in Turin, Italy.

However, they helped secure three Olympic berths for the United States.

"We will be cheering them on," Belbin said.

[Last modified March 19, 2005, 01:01:18]