Americans lead Olympic ice dancing

SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White took a narrow lead Sunday after the short program in Olympic ice dancing.

No skaters from the United States have ever won an Olympic ice dancing gold medal, although Davis and White captured the silver four years ago. They have since won the world championship twice, including the most recent one held.

The Americans received a short program score of 78.89. Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were second at 76.33 and the Russian team of Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalpov were third at 73.04.

Davis and White won the short and long program segments of the team event at the start of the Olympics, although the United States had to settle for a bronze medal.

The long skating program will take place Monday.