Vincent Zhou impressed on day one of the Nebelhorn Trophy ©Getty Images

The United States enjoyed a fine day at the Nebelhorn Trophy - the final figure skating qualifier for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics - with Vincent Zhou and Alysa Liu starring in the short programme.

Zhou produced the best routine in the men’s competition, scoring 97.35 points from the judges at the event in Oberstdorf in Germany.

Adam Siao Him Fa of France came second with 89.23 ahead of Australia’s Brendan Kerry who notched 85.89.

Italy’s Gabriele Frangipani and Mark Kondratiuk of Russia completed the top five after scoring 83.11 and 781.48 respectively.

Liu impressed in the women’s contest, topping the standings with 70.86 after the first of two routines.

Alexia Paganini of Switzerland totalled 65.65 to come second with Belarus’ Viktoriia Safonova picking up 62.02 to take third spot.

Kailani Craine of Australia was fourth with 61.62 and Ukraine’s Anastasiia Shabatova came fifth with 61.49.

Alysa Liu has put herself in a strong position to qualify for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics ©Getty Images
Alysa Liu has put herself in a strong position to qualify for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics ©Getty Images

The pairs short programme saw Karina Safina and Luka Berulava of Georgia edge out Germans Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nolan Seegert for top spot.

Safina and Berulava scored 66.46 as Hase and Seegert had to settle for second with 66.26.

Third place went to Spanish pair Laura Barquero and Marco Zandron with 62.01.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow with the free skating disciplines in the men’s and pairs events.

The ice dance contest will also start with the rhythm dance.

A total of 20 quota places are up for grabs at the event, including seven in men’s, six women’s, three in pair skating and four in ice dance.