KWAN ON TOP AFTER 1ST ROUND\Chen in second as Ito stumbles.

Byline: Barry Wilner Associated Press

First Stojko, then Ito. And once more, an American skated through the opening.

Michelle Kwan, the 15-year-old U.S. champion, won the short program in the World Figure Skating Championships on Friday, helped greatly when returning star Midori Ito of Japan fell.

Just as Elvis Stojko, the men's favorite, faltered in the short, worth one-third of the total score, and ruined his gold medal chances, so did Ito. She flopped on her trademark triple axel, which no other woman attempts, and sank to sixth.

Ito has had stomach problems recently and even was treated in an Edmonton hospital earlier this week. She did not practice the past two days, saying she believed it wiser "to get away from the ice."

Her flop left Kwan and defending champion Chen Lu of China to battle for the top spot. Both skated superbly, with Kwan getting the edge for her footwork and lyrical overall presentation of "Romanza."

"I think my short program here was definitely the strongest I have ever done it," said Kwan, of Torrance. "Once I stepped onto the ice, I really focused on all the elements."

Should Kwan hold on and win the title, she will be, at 15, the third-youngest world champion. Sonja Henie was 14 when she won in 1927 and Oksana Baiul also was 15 in 1993, but younger than Kwan is now.

A victory also would give the United States its first sweep of the singles event since 1986 (Debi Thomas and Brian Boitano). Todd Eldredge won the men's crown on Thursday.

"It would be wonderful to win the fourth medal for the U.S.," said Kwan. Rudy Galindo took a bronze in the men's event and Jenni Meno and Todd Sand got a bronze in pairs.

"Now, the mind set is very important," Kwan said. "I just really focus on every element of the program. Before I go to sleep, I run through the program in my head."

Chen also had a lovely program, making up for her disastrous showing last month at the Grand Prix final, where she was fourth.

"It was one of my best short programs," said the first world champion from China. "I was able to put everything out there.

"After Paris, I was mad at myself. But I know now that I can do it."

Can Ito do the triple axel? She couldn't in the qualifying round, which she won, and she didn't come close Friday.

"I thought I had to do the triple axel," Ito said through an interpreter. "It's my best jump."

Ito is slightly anemic and lost five pounds while trying to get in shape for her first Olympic-eligible competition since the 1992 Games. Ito, 26, and the oldest woman in the field, held her stomach when not warming up just prior to skating Friday.

"I am not in 100 percent condition," said the 1989 world champion, who won a silver medal at Albertville before turning pro.

Third heading into today's free skate was Russia's Irina Slutskaya.

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Photo (color) "I think my short program here was definitely the strongest I have ever done it. Once I stepped onth theice, Ireally focused on all the elements." -Michelle Kwan above On her performance at the World Championships