Johnny Weir performs during the senior men's short program, after which he held a slim lead over Evan Lysacek.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Two errors in the free skate Friday knocked Tucson native Chelsi Guillen and partner Danny Curzon into third place in the junior pairs event at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

"I'm not disappointed at all by how we skated. I felt like we went out there and did the best we could," Guillen said. The team finished with 134.58 overall points.

The Scottsdale-based team entered Friday's program with the lead. But they finished fourth in the free skate after Guillen, who tore her posterior cruciate ligament in August, had trouble on the side-by-side double axel-double toe combinations.

She also fell on the throw quadruple Salchow but landed a throw triple toe earlier in their skate. Guillen and Curzon, an ASU student, also performed a double twist.

"It felt amazing being on the podium," Guillen said. "It feels nice to win my first medal at nationals."

Their bronze medal performance keeps them in contention for a spot on the World Junior Championship team. U.S. Figure Skating is expected to announce the three pair teams following the senior pairs free skate today.

Johnny Weir edged Evan Lysacek on Friday night in their growing on-ice rivalry, winning the senior men's short program. This one was not close to being settled, though, with a measly 1.35 points separating them going into Sunday afternoon's free skate.

"I hope Evan can skate well," Weir said just before Lysacek took the ice. "I hope he can get over the nerves of coming back and trying to repeat as national champion. I've had to deal with it before, and it's a hard thing to do. So I hope he makes it interesting and throws all his cards on the table and skates well."

Weir scored 83.40 points, and Lysacek had 82.05. Stephen Carriere, last year's world junior champ, was third with 76.66.

Weir and Lysacek's rivalry started in the United States, with Weir winning the national title from 2004 to 2006 before Lysacek claimed it last year. But it has gone global, with Lysacek claiming two bronze medals at the world championships. He took the bronze at this year's Grand Prix final, and Weir finished fourth.

And while neither likes to admit it, knowing the other is out there has made them both better skaters.

"I have so much praise for Johnny. I don't know how he did it (be defending champion) three times," Lysacek said. "I'm learning it's extremely tough."

Weir did not have his usual pizazz, looking very deliberate and determined as he checked off one required element after another. His triple lutz-triple toe loop combination was done with ease and control, and he was one of the few competitors who not only landed a triple axel, but did a nice one.

His footwork was light and a perfect match for the music, and he had a nice touch at the end, tapping an imaginary key as the last piano note sounded.

"I was very nervous because there was a lot of pressure on me to come back. … Last year was kind of a disaster for me, and my mojo was not there," said Weir, who finished a distant third to Lysacek at nationals after falling on one jump and popping another in his free skate.

"I'm very pleased with how I did today."

Lysacek was pretty happy himself. He had thought being the defending champion would boost his confidence, that he would feel more relaxed knowing he has done this before.

He was wrong.

He spent the day Friday battling his nerves and was still shaking as he waited to take the ice. It did not help that he botched his quadruple toe several times during the warmup, crashing so hard one time it drew a sharp "Oooh" from fans.

"I was just so frazzled," Lysacek said. "I don't know what it is. I didn't think I'd be like that. (But) it's probably the most prestigious title, except for Olympic gold, for us."