SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING: A true test of a short track speed skater’s ability, the 1000m is nine laps of speed, endurance and tactics all wrapped into the one exciting race.
                                    
Likened to the 400m on the track, competitors need to go hard from start to finish, all the while making sure they don’t lose their edge.

Lockett shone again in the women’s final, easing through the race to win in 1:42.88. It was the 17-year-old’s third win in as many races, adding to her 500m and 1500m titles from the first day of competition.

Showing her consistency across various distances, Lockett backed up to also win the 3000m.

The star of the men’s 1000m was Victorian Pierre Boda, also notching up his third win of the Championships.

After winning all his preliminary 1000m races, Boda went into the final confident, controlled and ready to employ his tried and tested race tactics.

Placing himself in front from the start of the race, Boda took the lead from his national squad teammates Armstrong Lazenby, Nate Henry and Andy Jung.

With Lazenby nipping at his heels right until the end, Boda was able to hold his nerve and his lead to win.

Also showing his versatility, Boda performed strongly in his 3000m race but was touched out for the win by Lazenby making a lunge across the finish line.

Typically the most tactical of all the races, the 3000m didn’t disappoint. Boda made a huge gain with a few laps to go, leaving the tight bunch of skaters behind him to take what seemed like an unassailable lead. But Lazenby had other plans and gave it everything he had on the last straight to chase Boda down.

After a nervous wait, the judges ruled that Lazenby had snuck across the line for the win. Henry rounded out the top three.

Proving themselves as Australia’s leading hopes to qualify for Sochi, Boda and Lockett will now look to the upcoming World Cup season which kicks off in Shanghai, China on 26 September.

The circuit will take them to Korea in October before the all important Olympic Qualifying Events take place in November in Italy and Russia.

Alice Wheeler
@AUSOlympicTeam
olympics.com.au