Anna Shcherbakova topped the short program at the Russian figure skating championships, looking to become the first woman in 19 years to win three consecutive national titles.
Shcherbakova, 16, had the cleanest jumps of the top contenders, though she did not attempt a triple Axel. She tallied 80.31 points, edging 14-year-old Kamila Valiyeva by .32.
Shcherbakova, the world’s third-ranked skater last season in her senior international debut campaign, is looking to emulate Irina Slutskaya, who three-peated from 1999-2001.
Valiyeva, who is too young to skate at March’s senior world championships, fell on an under-rotated triple Axel attempt.