Australian track cycling ace Anna Meares has won her 23rd senior national title, leading from start to finish in the keirin final.

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.

West Australian Isabella King also won the women’s scratch race title after two ACT riders crashed on the second-last lap.

One night after the dramatic three-rider spill in the men’s scratch race, Sorella Bowman was left with a suspected broken collarbone while Rebecca Wiasak did not appear seriously hurt.

King then launched a well-timed sprint to win the gold medal ahead of SA’s Annette Edmondson and WA’s Melissa Hoskins.

Like King, Meares launched a long-range sprint to secure her gold medal.

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.”

Earlier, men’s sprint champion Alex Bird was eliminated from the men’s keirin when he was last in the repechage.