Madison Chock and Evan Bates compete in the rhythm dance program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Friday in Nashville, Tenn. (AP photo)

Dancing to a medley of Billie Eilish songs, Chock and Bates were perfection on their curve lift, tightly in unison on their brilliant twizzles and brought down the house with their finishing step sequence to score 91.94 points — the highest score ever at nationals and more than two points higher than any posted during the Grand Prix season.

Hubbell and Donohue finished with 89.39 points to keep them within striking distance heading into today’s free dance, which not only will decide the national title but also help with selecting the three-team squad for the Winter Olympics.

“It is certainly not our first rodeo, but it’s our favorite rodeo. We love doing the U.S. championships,” Chock said. “It was just such a pleasure to perform. I loved every second of it.”

The race for gold will be just as tight as the race for bronze and the final Olympic spot. Caroline Green and Michael Parsons have 80.85 points and Kaitlin Hawayak and Jean-Luc Baker are only a point behind them in fourth place.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates perform in the free dance at the Skate America figure skating event Oct. 24 in Las Vegas. (AP file photo)

The women’s free skate took place later Friday, but it was thrown into a bit of chaos even before the dancers took the ice at Bridgestone Arena on Friday when two-time champion Alysa Liu withdrew because of a positive COVID-19 test.

Liu joined the favored pairs team of Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier in withdrawing due to a positive test.