Youngster Lee in control at the World Sprint Championships

SOUTH Korean youngster Lee Sang-Hwa leads quadruple World Cup champion Jenny Wolf at the half-way stage of the World Sprint Speed Skating Championships in Obihiro, Japan.

SOUTH KOREAN LEADERS: Two-time champion Lee Kyou Hyuk (below) leads the mens' competition while youngster Lee Sang-Hwa in control of women's event (Getty Images)

The 20-year old finished third at her previous three World Cup 500m races, with Wolf having won six of the eight races this season.  However, Lee took advantage of a below-par performance from the German to clock the quickest time of 38.190 seconds and take control of the standings.

Wolf finished second in the 500m but an eighth place in the 1000m meant the 30-year old slipped to third overall with another 500m and 1000m to race on Sunday.

Lee leads on 77.080 overall while home favourite Sayuri Yoshii won the 1000m to move into second overall on 77.370.

South Korea's former champion Lee Kyou-Hyuk leads the men's competition at the half-way stage after a third and first in the 500m and 1000m races respectively.

The 2007 and 2008 champion saw his chances of a third consecutive title come crashing to the ground when he fell in the final race 12 months ago.

But Lee is well set to reclaim his title in Japan, as he leads by more than 0.5 seconds with two races remaining.

The South Korean sits on 69.940 overall with Dutchman Ronald Mulder second on 70.480 and Japan's Keiichiro Nagashima third on 70.505.