Jackie Jablon got the Panthers Figure Skating Club off to an impressive start by winning her qualifying round Wednesday at the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships at Salt Lake City.

Jablon, 13, posted a score of 58.99, second best out of 41 skaters in the intermediate women's division. She got high marks on a double lutz combination and on a her double axel with a double toe loop.

Jackie Jablon, shown during the recent regional competition, won her qualifying round Wednesday in her first appearance at junior nationals.

"She landed every single thing in her program. She had good spins and good footwork. She won her group, and we're very happy with how she did today," coach Ilona Melnichenko said.

Jablon is one of four skaters representing the Coral Springs-based PFSC at junior nationals. Franchesca Chiera, also 13, was ninth in the other flight of women's intermediate qualifying with 56.02 points. Both girls advanced to Friday's short program. Qualifying round scores do not carry over to the next round.

Chiera, who won the South Atlantic Regional Championship in October and was second at junior nationals last year as a juvenile, has been battling an ear infection and head cold for the past week. Because of the illness and missed practice time she elected not to attempt the triple jump that she has been preparing for the competition.

"Franchesca is a little sick. She's not feeling good at all. We hope she will be feeling better by the end of the week and can show her best," Melnichenko said.

Jablon, who qualified for junior nationals by placing fourth at the regional, showed what she is capable of in her first appearance in national competition.

"She was able to show her confidence. It was a lot of pressure. She did what she can do today," Melnichenko said.

"Jackie has been our secret weapon for a couple of years," said Nancy Mariani, skating director of the PFSC. "She's not flashy by nature. But she's so consistent with her jumps that she stands out. She's very athletic. Technically she's as good and sometimes better than Franchesca. Franchesca has a little more polish and poise, and I think that gets her further ahead sometimes. But Jackie is more than capable of also doing very well."

Qualifying continues Thursday with juvenile competition. the PFSC has Andrew Torgashev, the regional champion, in the boys division and Vanessa Feigenbaum in the girls. Both are competing at junior nationals for the first time.

Lake Worth's Paolo Borromeo, of the Skating Club of Florida, is also entered in juvenile boys. Borromeo was the regional runner-up and placed 16th last year at junior nationals.