Japanese figure skater Kazuki Tomono showcased an outstanding performance in the short program at Skate America, taking the lead over Kevin Aymoz of France and Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, Jason Brown of the U.S. placed fifth behind Italy’s Daniel Grassl in his first Grand Prix event of the season.
In the pairs competition, Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava impressed with a near-flawless routine set to “Bolero,” securing a significant lead over Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara.
Tomono, aiming to secure a spot for Japan at the Winter Olympics, delivered a remarkable performance with a score of 95.77, his best since the 2022 world championships. Aymoz rebounded from a previous disappointing performance, scoring 93.56 points, while Shaidorov, aiming for his first Grand Prix win, faced challenges in his routine, scoring 89.67 points.
Brown, vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, faced some setbacks in his performance but managed to finish in the top five with his signature “Riverdance” routine. Metelkina and Berulava continued their success with a season’s best score of 78.83 points.
The competition will continue with the ice dance and women’s short program, leading to the final day of Skate America on Sunday where the medals will be determined.