The 2021 U.S. Novice and Junior Challenge Skate began Thursday morning with the novice men's and novice ladies short programs at the Skating Club of Boston's new facility in Norwood, Massachusetts. The men's competition consisted of 12 athletes from 10 different clubs while the ladies field featured 17 athletes representing 14 clubs.
Novice Ladies Short Program
In the novice ladies short program, Elyce Lin-Gracey led the field with 52.73 points. Hailing from Pasadena Figure Skating Club, she successfully completed a triple Lutz-double toe loop combination to open her program. She leads the field by over four points headed into the free skate.
Behind Lin-Gracey is Finer Edge Figure Skating Club's Lauren Jeong. She scored 48.19 points, opening her program with a triple Lutz and closing with a Level 4 change foot spin combination.
In third place is Athena Huang (46.78 points). The Pasadena Figure Skating Club athlete's program featured two Level 4 spins and a double Axel.
Novice Men Short Program
Leading the way in the novice men's competition, Aleksandr Fegan took first with 48.08 points. Hailing from the Skating Club of New York, he completed a triple Salchow-double toe loop combination as well as a triple toe loop.
Antonio Monaco (Scott Hamilton Skating Club) finished just shy of Fegan with 47.48 points. The High Bridge, New Jersey, native opened with a triple flip and later executed a double Axel.
In third, Patrick Blackwell scored 44.26 points. The Warwick Figure Skaters athlete kicked off his program with a triple toe loop-triple toe loop combination and followed with a triple Salchow.
The novice competition continues tomorrow with the ladies and men's free skates. The novice pattern dance as well as the junior events - rhythm dance, ladies short program, men's short program - begin on Saturday, Sept. 18. The novice free dance, junior free dance, junior ladies free skate and junior men's free skate will conclude the weekend's action on Sunday, Sept. 19.
Watch the Challenge Skate live and on-demand on the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone.
