Two-time world champion Mao Asada of Japan seized the lead at figure skating's Four Continents Championship with the top performance of the women's short programme.

Asada, the 2010 Olympic silver medalist, on Friday garnered 64.25 points for her short routine, with US national champion Ashley Wagner second on 64.07.

Japan's Kanako Murakami, the 2010 junior world champion, was third with 63.45 points after the first phase of competition, with the title to be decided by Saturday's free skate.

Asada's only error came on her first jump, her trademark triple axel. She didn't quite land it cleanly.

The men's title was to be decided later Friday, with Canadian Patrick Chan taking the lead into the free skate after Thursday's short programme.