Keiichiro Nagashima took third place in the men's 500 meters in the fourth leg of the World Cup series on Friday, all but securing himself a spot at the Sochi Olympics.

Nagashima came home in 35.01 seconds for his third podium finish of the season, while Dutchman Michel Mulder took first in 34.80 and South Korea's Mo Tae-bum second in 34.89. Among other Japanese sprinters, Joji Kato was sixth and Yuya Oikawa 10th.

In the women's 500, Nao Kodaira, who placed fifth, was the highest Japanese finisher.