CYCLING: Cycling great Anna Meares has claimed Australia's second medal of the track world championships, grabbing silver in a thrilling finish to the women's keirin.

The defending champion looked boxed in during the final lap but managed to squeeze through a gap to give herself a chance at an astonishing fourth gold in the event - but couldn't bridge the gap created by Germany's Kristina Vogel, who won by 0.078 seconds.

The brilliant ride should help erase bad memories of Meares' gold medal keirin ride at the London Olympics, where she faded badly and was left devastated as fierce rival, Great Britain's Victoria Pendleton, claimed top spot.

Meares suffered a scare in the qualifying rounds when Russian rider Ekaterina Gnidenko drifted into the sprinters lane and clashed with the Australian's front wheel.

The 32-year-old wobbled but remarkably regained control of her bike - which she attributed to her BMX-riding days - to finish in third, before being awarded her place in the semi-finals when officials disqualified Gnidenko.

McCulloch had cruised to the semi-finals with victory in her heat, while Morton managed to get through with a comfortable win in the repechage round, but both missed a spot in the first semi-final won by Meares.

They went one-two in the second final, with Morton taking top spot to secure seventh place overall and McCulloch was eighth.

AAP