TALLIN, Estonia – Wesley Chiu of Richmond, B.C., is in second place after Thursday’s men’s short program at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

Ilia Malinin of the U.S. stands first with 88.99 points, followed Chiu who bettered his personal best to 81.59. He is slightly ahead of Mihhail Selevko of Estonia in third at 81.26.

Chiu, third in the senior division at nationals in January, produced a clean short program landing his triple Axel, triple flip and combo triple Lutz-triple toe.

‘’I feel amazing this is a personal best by far and I’m very excited about that,’’ said Chiu, 16, a gold and bronze medallist this past season on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit. ‘’I had really good practices leading up to this event, so I was confident and ready to go.’’

Stephen Gogolev of Toronto, competing at his third world juniors is in sixth spot and within striking distance of the podium with 78.75. He also landed his three jumps cleanly.

The men’s free skate is on Saturday.

Meanwhile Brooke McIntosh of Toronto and Benjamin Mimar of Terrebonne, Que., are also in the medal hunt in pairs placing fourth in the short program with 58.00.

Karina Safina and Luka Berulava of Georgia lead with 67.77, Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore of Australia are second at 61.72 and Anastasiia Smirnova and Danylo Siianytsia of the U.S. are third at 60.38.

Chloe Panetta of Oakville, Ont., and Kieran Thrasher of Amherstburg, Ont., are seventh at 47.90.

Competition continues Friday with the pairs free skate and the rhythm dance.

Full results: ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2022