Overwhelming favorite and reigning world champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier scored a personal best of 81.96 in their short program for a commanding lead on the first day of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

The Olympic figure skating program at the Beijing Games probably won't be remembered for the soaring performances of American gold medalist Nathan Chen, French ice dancers Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron or the Chinese pairs team of Sui Wenjing and Han Cong.