The third day of the U.S. Novice and Junior Challenge Skate opened with the novice pattern dance and junior rhythm dance. The competition in Salt Lake City also included the short programs for the junior ladies and men.

Novice Pattern Dance
After the novice pattern dance Gabriela Hernandez and Noah Lafornara earned the top spot with a score of 42.60. The Peninsula Skating Club and Lansing Skating Club duo gained positive Grades of Execution (GOE) on all elements performed.

In second place with a score of 41.29, was the brother-sister combo Elliana Peal and Ethan Peal. The Skokie Valley Skating Club skaters also gained positive GOE on all elements and an event-high of 12.36 Program Components score.

Finishing third in the starlight waltz pattern dance was All Year Figure Skating Club's Juliette Shadid and Lucas Shadid with a total of 35.81 points.

Junior Rhythm Dance
In the junior rhythm dance, Anna Nicklas (Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club) and Max Ryan (All Year Figure Skating Club) placed first with a total of 49.11 points. The team completed Level 4 twizzles and a Level 2 rotational lift.

In second place was Samantha Ritter (All Year Figure Skating Club) and Jim Wang (St. Paul Figure Skating Club) with a total of 43.42 points. Their program was highlighted by a Level 2 midline step sequence, and Level 4 straight line lift.

Grabbing the third place slot was Breelie Taylor and Tyler Vollmer with a total of 37.80 points. The Atlanta Figure Skating Club and Los Angeles Figure Skating Club duo started their program off strong with a Level 4 curve lift earning the highest GOE of their executed elements.

Junior Ladies Short Program
The junior competition opened with the ladies short program on Saturday afternoon. Skokie Valley Skating Club's Calista Choi leads the field with 55.16 points after the short program. The 209 U.S. novice champion was awarded Level 4 marks for all of her non-jumping elements, including a flying sit spin, change foot combination spin, layback spin and step sequence. She also landed a clean triple loop and double Axel.

In second place after the short program, Mia Kalin of the St. Moritz Ice Skating Club scored 49.98 points. Her performance included a triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination, as well as three Level 4 spins.

Akane Eguchi sits in third place with 49.01 points. The Dallas Figure Skating Club skater opened with a triple flip-double toe loop combination, followed by a triple loop.

Junior Men's Short Program
The Skating Club of Boston's Maxim Naumov leads the junior men's field after the short program with a score of 67.99. The 18-year-old opened with a triple Axel followed by a triple Salchow-triple toe loop combination. He was also awarded Level 4s for his change foot camel spin, flying sit spin, step sequence and change foot combination spin.

Sitting in second place after the short program, Matthew Nielsen of Strongsville Skating Club scored 66.55 points. In his clean skate, the 16-year-old landed three triple jumps, including a triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination.

Just behind Nielson, Lucas Altieri scored 66.49points to finish in third place. The Pines Figure Skating Club skater led the field with his 30.33 point Program Components score.

The 2019 U.S. Novice and Junior Challenge Skate closes on Sunday, Sept. 22. The events will include the novice and junior free dances, and junior ladies and men's free skates. Watch competition live on the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone.