With no competition in the United States, Meryl Davis and Charlie White have to settle for beating themselves. The Olympic silver medalists and 2011 world champions posted a career high in the short dance Friday afternoon in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at CenturyLink Center Omaha.

Their score of 79.02 points topped not only the 76.17 they scored at the 2011 Grand Prix final, but their 76.89 from last year's U.S. championships. The International Skating Union only recognizes scores from its events as official records.

No surprise, the monster score put Davis and White well in front. Evan Bates and Madison Chock are more than eight points back (70.80) while 2012 runners-up Maia and Alex Shibutani were third (69.63).

The free dance is Saturday and Davis and White are all but guaranteed a fifth straight title just by showing up.