World champion Alysa Liu takes free skate as US wins World Team Trophy

TOKYO (AP) — World champion Alysa Liu produced a flawless routine in the women’s free skate as the United States won its sixth gold medal at the figure skating World Team Trophy on Saturday.

Skating to “MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer, the 19-year-old Liu landed seven triple jumps for a personal-best score of 150.97 points. Teammate Amber Glenn was second with 148.93.

Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto was third with 145.00.

The United States finished the three-day competition with 126 points, 16 ahead of Japan. Italy was third with 86 points to claim its first ever medal in the event.

“We are just beaming. I'm so insanely proud of my team and everyone,” U.S. skater Jason Brown said. “It's been such an incredible season, and to end it here has been so special.”

Liu’s previous best free skate score was 148.39 only last month at the world championships in Boston.

“I was a little bit happier after my free skate at worlds but I’ll take this one,” Liu said. "I only ran it one time before coming here, so I wasn't expecting that. And I'm happy I could put out a good enough score for my team.”

Glenn also posted a personal best, which featured a triple axel.

“It's been consistent in practice, and I even did it in shows here in Japan,” Glenn said. “It's something I feel I'm able to do when I'm in the right place and I was today.”

The U.S. has medaled at every biennial World Team Trophy since its inception in 2009 and has won six of the nine competitions.

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won the pairs free skate as the host nation cut the Americans' lead to 11 points, but the dominant performances by Glenn and Liu clinched gold for the U.S.

The U.S. headed into the final day with a 15-point lead over Japan after victories in the men’s and ice dance competitions on Friday.

Two-time world champion Ilia Malinin won the men’s free skate to solidify the overall lead for the Americans. Malinin landed four quads in his program to “I’m Not a Vampire,” scoring 183.88 points.

Ice dance world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates won the free dance segment. The three-time world ice dance champions received 12 points after a season’s best score of 133.51

The World Team Trophy features the top six figure skating teams. France was fourth, followed by Canada and Georgia.

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Amber Glenn, of the United States, performs during the women's free skating program at the ISU World Team Trophy figure skating competition at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Saturday April 19, 2025 in Tokyo. (Kyodo News via AP)

Alysa Liu, of the United States, performs during the women's free skating program at the ISU World Team Trophy figure skating competition at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Saturday April 19, 2025 in Tokyo. (Kyodo News via AP)

The first place winning U.S. team, from right, Jason Brown, Alysa Liu, Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, pose during the award ceremony of of the ISU World Team Trophy figure skating competition at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Saturday April 19, 2025 in Tokyo. (Kyodo News via AP)

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced Monday he is suspending his campaign for governor and instead joining the race for secretary of state of the battleground state.

Gilchrist, a progressive Democrat from Detroit, did not cite a specific reason for the change in his video announcement, but said he is not finished being a “public servant.” His departure clears up the Democratic primary and benefits the frontrunner, Jocelyn Benson, who is the current Secretary of State, in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The secretary of state is Michigan's top election official, a highly politicized and visible role since the 2020 presidential election.

“Michigan has been ground zero in the battle for free and fair elections before, and it will be again,” Gilchrist said.

As Whitmer’s second in command and her running mate in two elections, Gilchrist struggled to match Benson’s name recognition and fundraising. He reported having around $378,000 of cash on hand as of October compared to Benson’s $2.98 million.

Benson is now set to face only Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the Democratic primary in August.

The inclusion of a well-known independent candidate has created a new problem for Democrats this year. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is avoiding costly primaries altogether by running as an independent. The Michigan Democratic Party slammed the former Democrat last week for not standing up to President Donald Trump’s second term policies.

In the Republican primary, U.S. Rep. John James, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, state Senate Leader Aaric Nesbitt and former Michigan House speaker Tom Leonard are jockeying for the nomination.

In his bid to become secretary of state, Gilchrist will face four other Democrats: Barb Byrum, Ingham County clerk; Aghogho Edevbie, deputy secretary of state; Suzanna Shkreli, a former Whitmer aide and commissioner of the Michigan State Lottery; and Adam Hollier, a former state senator from Detroit.

Michigan does not hold primary elections for the secretary of state position; the nominee is chosen by precinct delegates during party conventions. The Michigan Democratic Party convention is scheduled for April 19.

State Republicans plan to hold their nominating convention March 28 and GOP figures chasing the party's nomination for secretary of state include Anthony Forlini, Macomb County Clerk, and Monica Yatooma, an Oakland County executive.

In addition to the office of the governor and secretary of state, Michigan voters will be selecting a new state attorney general and a U.S. senator in November.

FILE - Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II waits before the State of the State address, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, file)