Anna Meares, the four-time world champion in the 500m Time Trial, has overcome a potentially disastrous start to claim her sixth national title.
From the starting gate, Meares’ back wheel slipped on the track as she pushed off, forcing her knee into the handlebars.
However Meares recovered to post 34.682secs to take the gold, with Victoria’s Caitlin Ward (35.263) and Canberra’s Catherine Culvenor (35.734) rounding out the podium.
It’s an event Meares has made her own – she’s the 2004 Olympic champion, four-time world champion, two-time Commonwealth gold medallist, the first woman to break both the 34 and 33 second barrier, and the current reigning world record holder for the event.
“I really wanted this one to go nice and smoothly as it was national title number 30,” said Meares, who became the first woman in history to break the 33-second barrier (32.836secs) at December’s UCI Track World Cup.
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“The perfectionist in me is a little disappointed, even though I was able to win, as I wanted people to see this is what I have been working hard for,” she added.
Meares will now turn her attentions to the sprint (Friday) and keirin (Saturday) and is anticipating a strong battle.
“It will be a tough tussle with (Taylah) Jennings and (Steph) Morton in the mix, and with number of riders stepping up from the junior ranks, it has really started to swell out the elite women's field.
