SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING: Australia's short track speed skating team have ended their first World Cup campaign of the season in Shanghai, China today.

Deanna Lockett was Australia's best performing athlete, finishing 13th in the 1500m - a solid start to her Olympic qualification.

The 17-year-old cruised through the heats and quarter-finals of her favoured 1500m event but her luck came to an end in the semi-final on Saturday night.

Half way through the 13.5 lap race, the field of six skaters had a definitive split. Despite a late surge from Lockett she was unable to reach the lead group, finishing fourth in 2:22.321 to book a place in the B-Final.

Faced with tough competition in the B-Final from China, Canada and Italy, Lockett finished in fifth position - 13th overall.

She also contested the 1000m but was unable to progress past her first race.

Australia's other female skater, Alix-Myra Anderson, had better luck in the 1000m coming in second behind World Champion Elise Christie of Great Britain in the pre-preliminary race.

Anderson then contested the preliminary round of competition, where she skated 1:37.710 to finish fourth and thus not progress through to the heats. Anderson also competed in the 500m.

There was no luck for the Aussie men in their 1500m, with Pierre Boda, Nate Henry and Andy Jung all missing out on a quarter-finals berth. Boda, Armstrong Lazenby and Simon Francis also contested the 500m but were unable to progress.

On Day 2 in the men's 1000m, Boda and Lazenby both progressed through to the preliminary stage but were unable to finish in the top two positions needed to advance.

The pair were then joined by Nate Henry and Andy Jung to contest the 5000m relay. In a tough draw against Russia, USA and Germany, the Aussie team were competitive but were unable to gain a top-two spot to make the semi-final. Their time of 6:57.273 would have been enough to get them over the line in two of the other three heats.

The second World Cup will take place from 3 October in Seoul, Korea.