Rika Kihira claimed the ladies title at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Anaheim ©Getty Images

Japan’s Rika Kihira clinched the women’s title at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Anaheim after the free skate saw the standings alter considerably.

Kihira headed into the second day of the International Skating Union (ISU) event in fifth place following yesterday’s short programme.

The ISU Grand Prix Final champion produced an impressive routine at the Honda Centre to rise up the standings.

The performance included a triple axel, a double Axel-triple toe, triple Lutz-triple toe and four triples, as well as level-four spins and footwork.

Her score of 153.14 points gave the Japanese skater an overall total of 221.99 points, proving enough to earn the title as rivals faltered.

Kazakhstan's Elizabet Tursynbaeva ended as the silver medallist after scoring a season best 139.37 points in the free skate to rise from sixth place.

She finished with a total of 207.46 points, with Mai Mihara of Japan taking the bronze medal on 207.12 having moved up from her overnight position of eighth.

Defending champion Kaori Sakamoto was among the short programme stars to falter in the free skate as a mistake saw the Japanese skater drop from second place down to fourth on 206.79 points.

Overnight leader Bradie Tennell finished fifth overall as the American ended on 202.07 points, while her team-mate Mariah Bell slipped from third to sixth on 193.94.

Canada’s Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro lead the pairs competition at the halfway stage in Anaheim ©Getty Images
Canada’s Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro lead the pairs competition at the halfway stage in Anaheim ©Getty Images

Pairs competition began with Canada’s Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro topping the short programme standings with a score of 74.66 points.

Olympic silver medallists Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China were second on 74.19 points, with their team-mates Cheng Peng and Yang Jin third on 69.48.

The host nation could have success in the ice dance event, as Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue lead the standings after the rhythm dance section.

The World Championship silver medallists finished on 81.95 points.

Their team-mates Madison Chock and Evan Bates were second with 81.17 points and Canada’s Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje scored 80.56 for third place.

The men's and pairs competitions are due to conclude tomorrow with the ice dance rounding off the Championships on Sunday (February 10).

The ISU event features athletes from the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania but not Europe.

A total of 88 skaters from 14 countries are competing.