Japan's Yuma Kagiyama performs during the short skate at the Internationaux de France on Nov. 19 in Grenoble. (Kyodo)

       GRENOBLE, France (Kyodo) -- Japan's Yuma Kagiyama placed top after the men's short skate on Friday at Internationaux de France, the fifth event of this season's ISU Grand Prix.

       After winning the third meet of the season two weeks ago at the Gran Premio d'Italia, the 18-year-old logged a season-high score of 100.64 points -- 0.32 off his career-best -- after landing his quad salchow-triple toeloop combination.

       He is 10.88 ahead of second-place Deniss Vasiljevs of Latvia and is well on course to secure his maiden berth in the Grand Prix Final in December in Osaka.

       "It's big progress to get the score above 100 despite having a tiny mistake. I believe that's where I've matured," said Kagiyama, whose only point deduction on the day came when he failed to properly land his triple axel.

       Shun Sato, the 17-year-old who came fourth at this season's Grand Prix opener Skate America, scored a personal-best 87.82 to sit fourth.

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