Queensland's Anna Meares reclaimed the mantle of national sprint champion in a straight heats victory over defending champion Kaarle McCulloch at the Australian Track Cycling Championships at Adelaide's Super-drome on Thursday.

Meares, who claimed bronze at the 2004 Olympic Games and silver last year in Beijing, won the title three years in a row between 2004 and 2006 but surrendered it to her sister Kerrie in 2007 and was unable to contest the last edition after she sustained a broken vertebra in her neck in a racing accident in Los Angeles in January 2008.

Her fightback from the injury to claim the sprint silver medal in Beijing inspired the nation and after the Games she opted for a well earned break and has only been back in training for four weeks.

But her return to competition has so far yielded a silver medal (team sprint) and the sprint gold medal.

"To come away with the gold medal it is very special because I didn't put a lot of expectation or pressure on myself but there is always a bit of expectation with an Olympic medallist in an event," said Anna who was also surprised with the news she had been named South Australian Sports Star of the Year at a ceremony she missed because she was busy winning the gold medal.

"There is something about a big competition that makes me lift and I really, really, really wanted this win tonight."

McCulloch had posted the fastest qualifying time ahead of Kerrie Meares with Anna the third seed. However when it came to the match sprinting, Anna got the better of her sister in the semi-finals winning the first and third races in the best of three contest.

The 25-year-old then lined up against McCulloch and proved too experienced for her 20-year-old rival, claiming the win in two straight heats.

In the battle for bronze Kerrie defeated former Olympic speed skater and Queensland team-mate Emily Rosemond, also in straight heats.

Western Australia beat Victoria to win the Open 4km team pursuit, the men's U19 sprint was won by Victorian Maddison Hammond, South Australia's Annette Edmondson won the women's U19 sprint while U19 men's 10km scratch race went to Alex Carver of NSW.

Cycling Australia