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- Anna Meares and young cyclist Matthew Glaetzer who Meares has mentored. © Getty Images & Cycling Australia / John Veage
Australian track cycling ace Anna Meares has won her 23rd senior national title, leading from start to finish in the keirin final while her teenage protegee Matthew Glaetzer has won his first individual Australian title in the men's event.
In the women's race, team sprint partner Kaarle McCulloch nearly caught Meares on the line with a late lunge, but the reigning keirin world champion scored her third gold medal on the last night of this year's championships in Adelaide.
Meares took full advantage of drawing first position behind the motorbike for the final as McCulloch was last at No.6.
She steadily increased the pace and then hit top speed for the entire last lap.
"That hurt like hell," Meares said
"I had to really commit otherwise I was going to find myself in the position where I was going to be run down.
"I almost did, but I'd rather almost lose than almost win.
"This is the most level event for the two of us to come head-to-head.
"You saw that, I won it by half a tyre."
Meares also won gold at these nationals in the team sprint and sprint, with McCulloch taking silver in those two events as well.
The three wins are an ideal preparation for Meares ahead of next month's London World Cup round, which is effectively an Olympic dress rehearsal.
"I'm actually really excited, I feel like I've taken a great deal of confidence from these championships.
"The plan that Gary (coach Gary West) has for me is working and that goes a long way when you're out there on your own - sometimes that trust or backing is all you have.
"I will be leaning on that for sure."
In the men's event, SA's Matthew Glaetzer again showed he is one of the hottest young talents in track cycling by taking out the men's keirin final with a masterful ride.
He unleashed a blistering 10.3 seconds for the last 200m, prompting coach Gary West to draw a comparison with legendary British rider Sir Chris Hoy.
Andrew Taylor was second and fellow NSW rider Mitchell Bullen won the bronze medal, while world keirin champion Shane Perkins was fourth.
"The control exhibited in that acceleration was really, really good - that was Hoy-esque," West said of Glaetzer.
"And it was against a top-quality field."
It was the first individual senior national title for the two-time junior world champion, who also has two senior Australian team sprint gold medals.
"I knew I had to get to the front, put myself in a position to win and make it really hard for the others to come around - but leave enough ... to hold onto the front position," Glaetzer said.
"It's massive ... I didn't expect it to be honest.
"I just went out there and just tried to execute my perfect race to win and it came together.
"I'm only 19, it's extremely encouraging."
Glaetzer is in strong contention to have the No.3 position in the Australian sprint trio for the London Olympics.
AAP