White overcomes rare fall to win US Grand Prix

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Two-time Olympic champion Shaun White overcame a first-run fall to win gold and lead an American sweep at Friday’s U.S. Grand Prix snowboard championships.

White laid down a perfect second run to score 97.25 points. Scott Lago took second with 94.50 and Luke Mitrani third with 91.75 at Park City Mountain Resort.

Mitrani won the national title based on points earned at Friday’s event and another event in Colorado this season.

In the women’s halfpipe, China’s Jiayu Lui posted an 82 on her second run to edge U.S. rookie Arielle Gold (80.25) for gold. American Kaitlyn Farrington was third with 73.25.

Two-time Olympic medalist and four-time X Games champion Kelly Clark fell twice trying to land her first trick and finished sixth.

Gold ended up as the national champion, continuing an amazing run that included a win the World Championship two weeks ago in Quebec and a bronze as an X Games rookie last week in Aspen, Colo.

White made a surprising appearance at Park City’s superpipe to garner points toward Olympic qualifying. It was his first appearance there since the 2010 Grand Prix when the U.S. Olympic team was named.