Witt Leads Skaters; Thomas 3rd

Olympic champion Katarina Witt of East Germany won the compulsory figures phase in the women’s event today at the World Figure Skating Championships.

Seeking her fourth world title, Witt had the highest overall marks in the school figures, which count for 30% of the total score. Canada’s Elizabeth Manley finished second in the first portion of the competition, with U.S. champion Debi Thomas of San Jose, Calif., third. The next phase of the competition is Friday’s short program, which counts for 20% of the total score.