Korea Tops Short-Track Men's 5000m Relay Qualifying at 2018 Winter Olympics

South Korea set an Olympic record as they reached the final of the short-track men's 5,000-metre relay event on Tuesday in Pyeongchang, South Korea. 

China set a new record with a time of six minutes, 36.605 seconds in Heat 1, but that was surpassed by both Korea and Hungary in Heat 2 at the Gangneung Ice Arena, with Korea recording a time of 6:34.510.

Canada will complete the lineup for Final A after they finished behind China in the first heat. 

ISU Speedskating confirmed the lineup:

CBC's Jamie Strashin remarked on the hectic nature of the event:

China and Canada built up an early lead in Heat 1, while Kazakhstan were put on the back foot from the start following an early crash.

The Netherlands battled back into contention in the final laps, but the team was penalised when Sjinkie Knegt took out Canada's Samuel Girard in the last turn, handing Canada a place in Final A.

Heat 2 was a tighter contest between all four teams for much of the race, but in the later stages became a duel between Hungary and Korea as the USA tired late on.

The host nation, cheered on by a partisan crowd, took the lead in the final laps and held to claim top spot in the heat.