Shabalin and Domnina maintain ice dance lead

Russians Maxim Shabalin and Oksana Domnina held on to their ice dance lead at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships after the original dance programme.

The 2008 European champions are seeking their first World Championship medal after missing the event last year with an injury.

"We are happy with what we did," Domnina said. "But we can always do better. This was probably the last performance of this dance in the season and therefore we tried to give it the maximum."

The Russian duo have a slight lead on 2006 Olympic silver medallists Benjamin Agosto and Tanith Belbin, of the US, who posted the top original dance score on Thursday but couldn't overtake Shabalin and Domnina.

Last year's Worlds runner-ups Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue, of Canada, are in third while reigning American champs Charlie White and Meryl Davis are fourth.

There will be a new champion crowned at Staples Center arena as the 2008 dance champions France's Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder pulled out because of Delobel's injured shoulder. He underwent surgery in early January.

Shabalin and Domnina went into Thursday's original dance with the lead after posting the best score during Tuesday's compulsory skate. They earned 64.68 points to move to 105.45 points heading into Friday's free dance.

Skating to the music of the Waltz from Suite No. 2, Shabalin and Domnina showed no signs of Shabalin's knee problems that forced them to abandon plans to skate in last year's Worlds.

Their routine included a circular step sequence, a synchronized twizzle, and a straight line lift.

Belbin and Agosto are trying to silence the critics who say they are on the decline. The three-time World medallists finished fourth at the 2008 Worlds.

"We felt really great tonight," Belbin said. "After we missed nationals, we are happy to have the opportunity to skate this programme in front of our home country."

Like Domnina and Shabalin, Canada's Virtue and Moir have been battered by injury troubles. They debuted in international competition at last month's Four Continents in Vancouver where they scored a season's best of 191.81 points.

"I am feeling much better," Virtue said. "Coming into this competition feeling confident and prepared is a treat."





Egghead : A man poses with the alleged largest egg in the world during a photocall in central London. The egg was laid in the early 17th century, by the now extinct Great Elephant Bird of Madagascarto. AFP/Shaun Curry