Zhang & Zhang Take Lead at Jeonju Four Continents

High Score: China's top pair looks sharp at the final pre-Olympics competition.

World pairs silver medalists Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao of China seized an early lead Wednesday at the Four Continents figure skating championships — their last international event before the Olympics.

The Chinese pair pulled off a solid, if restrained, performance, with side-by-side spins showing off their technique and inventiveness and a final death spiral displaying a flair for drama.

“Our performance today was good and we are both really happy with how it all went,” Zhang Dan said. “Preparations for the Olympics are going very good, and we are glad we are here for the short program to prepare for it.”

Americans Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker jumped into second place going into the free skate, and Canadians Meagan Duhamel and Craig Buntin were in third.

In contrast to the duo’s previous outing, McLaughlin held onto her jumps, skating cleanly with strength and fluidity. The two-time national champions — once hailed as the future of American pairs skating — finished a crushing fifth at the U.S. championships last week after a faltering performance.

“Regardless of the situation, what happened in the past, when you get out there you just go for it, and that’s what we did,” Brubaker said.

The women’s competition was to begin later Wednesday, with Japanese superstar Mao Asada in the final group for the short program.

Asada appeared confident going into the competition, a key setup for the Vancouver Olympics. The 19-year-old is expected to unleash her trademark triple axel at the Olympics next month in a bid to grab the gold from world champion Kim Yu-na of South Korea.

Kim, who trains in Canada, resisted pressure to compete in Jeonju and chose to remain in North America to prepare for the Olympics.

This week’s competition is Asada’s chance to show she still has the competitive mettle for Olympic gold and to test the strength of her triple axel — a jump few women attempt in competition.

After beating Kim on home turf in 2008 with two triple axels in the free skate, Asada faltered in 2009, finishing second to Kim at the Trophee Eric Bompard and a disappointing fifth at the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow.

She fought back with a fourth straight national title last month, securing her spot on a strong Olympics team from Japan that also includes Miki Ando and Akiko Suzuki.

Suzuki, also competing at the Four Continents, could pose a threat to Asada’s master plan. She has notched two impressive first-place finishes this season.

In ice dancing, Canada’s Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje led the field after the compulsories, with Huang Xintong and Zheng Xun of China in second.

Canada’s Allie Hann-McCurdy and Michael Coreno were in third, trailed by American duos Madison Hubbell and Keiffer Hubbell, and Madison Chock and Greg Zuerlein.

The competition continues Thursday with the pairs’ free skate, the second round of the ice dancing competition and the men’s short program in the ancient city of Jeonju, 150 miles south of Seoul.

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Associated Press writer Esther Hong contributed to this report.

1/27/2010 4:07 AM JEAN H. LEE, Associated Press Writer JEONJU, South Korea