SHORT TRACK: Australian short track speed skater, Deanna Lockett, has finished the 2012/2013 World Cup season impressively, finishing inside the top 20 in both the 1000 and 1500 metre competitions after six events.

The 17-year old was 13th overall in the 1500 metres, and 17th in the 1000 metres, a remarkable result for such a young skater.

Her season included personal best times over both distances, with a fourth and a fifth place along the way.

“They are remarkable results for the young Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder,” Australia’s head coach, Ann Zhang, said after the final event in Dresden, Germany.

“Deanna has been challenging the top skaters from around the world this season, skaters who are five to 10 years older than her.

“She made the A final in the 1500 metres in World Cup 3 in Japan, and has consistently made the B final in the same event.

“Her best result was in China, were she made the A final in the 1000 metres and finished an incredible fourth, just missing out on a medal.”

Lockett finished the season in Germany last weekend, finishing 23rd in the 1500 metres, despites suffering from the flu.

Her team-mates, Pierre Boda and Armstrong Lazenby, were also sick, but skated well.

Boda was 28th in the men’s 500 metres, while Lazenby was 28th in the 1500 metres.

The fourth member of the team, Julie Jung, had to sit out the second day of competition because of a hip injury.

With less than 12 months to go before the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, the Australian team is progressing well.

“Julie finished the season 29th in the 500 metres and 35th in the 1000 metres, but is getting stronger and skated faster this season,” Zhang said. “She also set PBs in both events.

“Pierre was 46th in the 1000 metres and 49th in the 500 metres, also setting PBs, while young Armstrong, who turns 17 this week, has also stepped up from a club skater to an international level skater.

“He has improved in all distances at World Cup level, setting personal best times in the 500, 1000 and 1500 metre events.”

The Australian team still has the Junior and Senior World Championships to come, in February and March respectively.

After a training camp in Dresden, Lockett, Boda and Lazenby will compete in the Junior Worlds in Warsaw in two weeks, while Jung will contest the Senior Worlds in early March.

OWI