BUFFALO, Jan. 28-Harvard junior John Misha Petkevich completely dominated the first day of competition in the senior men's title at the United States figure skating championships at Dahn Memorial Rink here.

Petkevich is a heavy favorite to sweep tomorrow's event and win his first title. For the past two years he has been runner-up to two-time world champion Tim Wood, who recently retired from amateur competition.

School Figures

Today's schedule consisted of six compulsory school figures, perennially Petkevich's weak spot. However all seven judges ranked him first after the day's events. "He has always had trouble with figures," his coach Arthur Burke said. "This was definitely his most outstanding performance ever. He should be at quite a pitch for tomorrow's free skating."

At 9:30 tomorrow night Petkevich will skate his specialty, the free skating, at War Memorial Auditorium here. When he was on ABC's Wide World of Sports this fall, announcer Dick Button called him "the most exciting free skater in the world."

Petkevich has always outskated his opponents in the free skating, but has fallen behind in the figures. Today's victory virtually clinches the title for him. "He could skate on the seat of his pants tomorrow night and still win." Burke said.

Ken Shelley of Downey, California, is a distant second in the senior men's championships, and behind him is Gordie McKellan from Lake Placid, New York. He won the Easterns two weeks ago. Both Petkevich and Shelley had byes into the Nationals because they placed second and third respectively in last year's championships.

The top three finishers in the senior women's, senior men's gold dance, and senior pairs will represent the United States in the North American championships next week in Petersborough, Ontario, and world championships in Lyons. France, Feb. 23 through 28.

Petkevich was a member of the 1968 Olympic Team and the 1969 and 1970 World Teams. He was fifth in the Worlds in 1970 and is a favorite for a Gold Medal in the 1972 Olympics.

Petkevich has been unable to take his exams at Harvard, so they have been given to him at the University of Buffalo. He took the Biology 15 exam yesterday, but in the rush forgot the last question.