Becky James and Katy Marchant progress to 1/8 final of track sprint

Team GB pair of Becky James and Katy Marchant both came through their track sprint rounds at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

(Image credit: Watson)

Becky James (Great Britain) breezed into the 1/8 finals in the women's track sprint with victory in the 1/16 race. She'll be joined in the next round by teammate Katy Marchant, who also won her head-to-head without the need for a run-off in the repecharges.

James had already set a new Olympic Record earlier in the evening when she qualified fastest for the first round.

The British rider started the evening well with the new record of 10.721, which bettered the time set by Victoria Pendleton at London 2012.

A surprise from the 1/16 round was that multiple world and Olympic champion Anna Meares (Australia) lost out in her race and was forced to contest a repechage later in proceedings.

The Australian got through the three-way run-off, but will have another race in her legs when the competition starts again on Monday August 15.

The women's track sprint concludes during the later track cycling session on Tuesday August 16.

More from the Olympics

Jason Kenny beats Callum Skinner to take Olympic sprint title

Elia Viviani wins omnium elimination race as mistake costs Mark Cavendish

Becky James beats Victoria Pendleton's Olympic Record in women's sprint qualifying

Result

Women’s sprint: 1/16 Final

Winners progress to 1/8 final; losers to repecharges

Becky James (GBR) bt Olga Ismayilova (AZE)

Katy Marchant (GBR) bt Monique Sullivan (CAN)

Lee Wai Sze (HKG) bt Virginie Cueff (FRA)

Elis Ligtlee (NED) bt Gong Jinjie (CHN)

Zhong Tianshi (CHN) bt Miriam Welte (GER)

Kristina Vogel (GER) bt Laurine Van Riessen (NED)

Natasha Hansen (NZL) bt Kate O’Brien (CAN)

Anastasiia Voinova (RUS) bt Stephanie Morton (AUS)

Simona Krupeckaite (LTU) bt Anna Meares (AUS)

Women’s sprint: 1/16 Final Repecharge

Anna Meares (AUS) bt Olga Ismayilova (AZE) and Laurine Van Rieseen (NED)

Miriam Welte (GER) bt Kate O’Brien (CAN) and Monique Sullivan (CAN)

Virginie Cueff (FRA) bt Stephanie Morton (AUS) and Jinjie Gong (CHN)

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Jack Elton-Walters hails from the Isle of Wight, and would be quick to tell anyone that it's his favourite place to ride. He has covered a varied range of topics for Cycling Weekly, producing articles focusing on tech, professional racing and cycling culture. He moved on to work for Cyclist Magazine in 2017 where he stayed for four years until going freelance. He now returns to Cycling Weekly from time-to-time to cover racing, review cycling gear and write longer features for print and online.