Debi Thomas Wins Round 2

U.S. champion Debi Thomas won the women’s short program today in the World Figure Skating Championships, but Olympic gold medalist Katarina Witt of East Germany still is the overall leader.

Thomas excited the crowd with a jazzy performance and earned first-place marks from five judges, giving her first place in the short program, which counts for 20% of the total score. But combined with the school figure results, which Witt won and Thomas was third, the East German still had the overall advantage. However, the margin was so thin that whoever wins Saturday’s long program will win the title, just as in Calgary last month. Canada’s Liz Manley was third after slightly missing her jump combination.