Japan's Kao Miura reached his first figure skating Grand Prix podium on Saturday, finishing runner-up to American teen sensation Ilia Malinin at the series-opening Skate America.
Miura entered the final day of the men's competition in first place after scoring 94.96 in Friday's short program, leading fellow 17-year-old Malinin by three places and 8.88 points.
The junior world champion was a cut above in the free skate, however. Malinin thrilled the crowd with his now trademark quadruple axel on his way to 194.29 for the segment and a 280.37 total. Miura was second in the free skate, adding 178.23 for a 273.19 total.
South Korea's Cha Jun Hwan, who was second in the short program, was third with 264.05.
"I gave the best performance I could," Miura said. "I've gained enough strength to take off properly for my quad jumps in the second half. I want to correct my mistakes for the next competition."
In the women's competition, Japan's reigning world champion Kaori Sakamoto won the short program with a score of 71.72.
The Beijing Olympic bronze medalist finished the segment just in front of 15-year-old junior world champion Isabeau Levito of the United States, who scored 71.30. Another American, Amber Glenn, was third on 68.42.
"I feel like I kept my mistakes as few as possible," Sakamoto said. "I thought I wouldn't reach 70 points, so I'm glad I just got there. I need to switch my mindset for the free skate."
Former Japanese junior national champion Rino Matsuike will head into Sunday's free skate in eighth place after a 59.50.
In the ice dancing competition's rhythm dance, Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates finished first with 82.63, while Japan's Kana Muramoto and Daisuke Takahashi were fifth on 69.67.
Related coverage:
Figure skating: Kao Miura tops men's short program in GP season opener
Figure skating: Yuma Kagiyama out of Grand Prix series with ankle injury
Figure skating: Uno, Sakamoto lead host to Japan Open win
