Australian short track skater Mark McNee has set personal best times in the 500m and 1000m events at the World Cup in Bormio, Italy, making the quarter finals of the short distance race.

McNee set the pb by qualifying second in the preliminary round of the 500m, then made second again behind World 500m Champion JiaJun Li of China in his heat.

In the quarter final, he came up against World Championships silver medallist Fabio Carta of Italy and Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Games gold and silver medallist Apolo Anton Ohno of the United States, finishing in fourth place, for an overall placing of 16th.

In the 1000m, McNee’s time rated him 10th in the event.

The best of the other Australians was Alex McEwan, who placed 20th in the 1000m.

The Australian 5000m relay team went down to Italy and Japan in their qualifying heat, finishing 11th overall. Canada won the relay from China and the United States.