APELDOORN, Netherlands, March 26, 2011 – Anna Meares of Australia
dominated Lithuania’s Simona Krupeckaite 2-0 to claim her maiden sprint title
at the world track cycling championships Saturday.

Meares, 27, had beaten reigning and five-time world champion Victoria
Pendleton of Britain in the semi-finals to secure her final spot.

And the Queenslander, who gave up the defense of her 500 meter time trial
crown here to focus on the sprint tournament, proved too strong for
Krupeckaite in the final.

She beat the Lithuanian with relative ease in the first race, and despite
having to restart the second after an infringement by Krupeckaite Meares
powered past her rival with ease, giving herself time to celebrate before the
finish line.

Pendleton, the reigning Olympic champion, had to settle for the bronze
medal after beating Belarussian Olga Panarina 2-0.

Meares’ win is a first for Australian women in track cycling’s blue riband
event. Before gold, she had won two bronze and one silver.

Article:AFP