Carreira and Ponomarenko scored 69.01 points in their rhythm dance. The reigning U.S. junior champions had a clean skate, including Level 4 twizzles and a Level 4 rotational lift. They are looking to secure their first Grand Prix medal in the free skate tomorrow.
Russia’s Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin are in first place (74.49), and Sara Hurtado and Kirill Khaliavin of Spain round out the top three in third place (66.40).
In the men’s competition, Alex Krasnozhon scored a season’s best 75.32 points for his short program. The 2017 U.S. junior champion had all positive grades of execution in his clean skate, landing four triple jumps and completing three Level 4 spins.
Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu claimed first place (110.53) in the short program, Georgia’s Morisi Kvitelashvili finished second (89.94) and Sweden’s Alexander Majorov placed third (82.33).
The U.S. pairs contingent had a tough outing in their short programs. Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc scored 58.79 points to finish in seventh place. Deanna Stellato and Nathan Bartholomay finished eighth in the short program, scoring 51.25 points.
Skate America champions Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov of Russia are in first place (78.47) after the short, Italy’s Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise are in second (72.32), and Russia’s Daria Pavliuchenko and Denis Khodykin sit in third place (69.38).
Gracie Gold made her return to Grand Prix ice, scoring 37.51 points in the short program to finish in 10th place.
Olympic champion Alina Zagitova of Russia is in first place (80.78), Russia’s Sofia Samodurova is in second (67.40) and Alexia Paganini of Switzerland is in third (63.43).
Competition continues Saturday with the free skates and free dance.
For more news and results from 2018 Rostelecom Cup, please visit the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. The competition can be streamed on the Figure Skating Pass on NBC Sports Gold.
Results
