ST. LOUIS, Missouri — Amber Glenn left no room for doubt that she is the one to beat at the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships, taking the lead in the women’s short program with a historic 83.05 points – the highest score of any U.S. woman at a national championship. 

The performance continued a season-long narrative for Glenn, who has leaned into consistency and confidence. From an enormous lead triple Axel – an element only she completed in the championships – to her final pose, Glenn had the audience, and clearly also the judges, in her command. Skating to Madonna’s ‘Like A Prayer,’ the audience cheered along with her as they realized the performance was among the best of her career. 

In tears at the end, she later said she felt like her grandmother, who died last year, was with her, calming her nerves. 

“I feel ecstatic. The score was huge, and I was not expecting that,” Glenn said after the competition concluded.

Alysa Liu sits closest in 2nd with 81.11, keeping herself squarely in gold-medal conversation after a steady, high-quality short. Liu didn’t attempt a triple Axel, but compensated with efficiency and difficulty elsewhere, most notably a triple Lutz-triple loop in the bonus section for 13.65. She also topped the field in program components, slightly ahead of Glenn, reinforcing the maturity and polish that have defined her comeback season.

“I’m so happy with that short program,” Liu said. “I would say that's my favorite short program I’ve done.”

In 3rd, Isabeau Levito posted 75.72, staying clean and controlled while keeping herself within reach of the leaders. Her short program skated to ‘Zou Bisou Bisou,’ was elegant, controlled and intricate – qualities the two-time national champion has built her career perfecting. Levito’s total of 40.10 in elements and 35.62 in components reflects the steadiness that has made her a reliable championship performer, even as she now needs ground in the free skate to close the gap on the top two.

“I feel very satisfied with myself today,” she said. “I feel like I did my job.”

Beyond the top three, the competition was just as intense, as athletes who may not have a chance to earn a ticket to the Olympics hoped to lay down the groundwork for seasons ahead.

Sarah Everhardt moved into 4th with 71.10, reigniting some of the Olympic buzz that surrounded her last season. Everhardt, who trains with Ilia Malinin, delivered an emphatic short program skated to ‘Riverdance,’ drawing a huge applause from the crowd. “It was really fun and the audience was there to push me,” Everhardt said. “I’m really thankful.” 

Her opening triple Lutz-triple toe loop scored 11.28, and she kept her layout efficient and mostly level-clean, positioning herself as one of the skaters capable of climbing if others falter.

Bradie Tennell holds 5th with 69.53, a reminder of both her experience and the thin margins at this championship. A powerful jump pass and fast complex spins held together a performance worthy of her position knocking on the door of the top three U.S. women, keeping herself within striking distance heading into the free skate. In 6th, Starr Andrews earned 65.77 in what she has described as her final season as a singles skater before transitioning to pairs. An under-rotated opening triple toe-triple toe scored 6.60, but she recovered with strong middle and closing elements, including a Level 4 step sequence for 5.40 and a bonus triple loop for 6.58. The crowd response reflected the emotional weight of the moment as much as the technical content.

The middle of the standings stayed tightly packed. Elyce Lin-Gracey (65.24) finished 7th after a season disrupted by injury and recent coaching changes, showing flashes of quality but still searching for full rhythm. Josephine Lee (62.79) followed in 8th, continuing a quietly steady senior transition with clean rotation on her triple loop and a solid step sequence.

Behind them, Sherry Zhang placed 9th with 60.99 after an invalidated jump element resulted in zero points on that slot. Sophie Joline von Felten finished 10th with 60.68 after falling on her triple Axel attempt, which scored 4.00 and carried a 1.00 deduction. Although she is not age-eligible for Milan Cortina, her willingness to attempt high-risk technical content remains one of the most intriguing long-term storylines in the U.S. women’s field.