Pendleton is aiming for four gold medals at the championships

World Track Championships
Date: Friday, 28 March
Venue: Manchester Velodrome
BBC Coverage: Live on BBC Two 1900-2000 GMT, BBCi 1900-2200 GMT, BBC Sport website (UK users only) and on 5 Live Sports Extra 1855-2145 GMT

Reigning champ Victoria Pendleton set a new British record as she topped qualifying for the women's sprint at the World Track Championships.

Pendleton set a time of 10.904secs, to finish as the only rider of the 28-strong field to go under 11secs.

Simona Krupeckaite of Lithuania came second in 11.093, while China's Shuang Gong was third in 11.002.

The fastest 24 riders from qualifying go through to the second round, where riders will face off in pairs.

The third round winners go directly into the quarter-finals, while losers to go into repechages, or heats.

Pendleton, aiming to add to the team sprint title she won on Thursday, is the pre-race favourite for gold.

But she is expected to be given a tough challenge by the likes of Krupeckaite, Guo and Dutchwoman Wills Kanis, who finished qualifying in 11.172.

The world record for the women's sprint, which begins with a 200m flying start is 10.831, held by Natallia Tsylinskaya of Belarus, who stopped the clock in qualifying at 11.221.

Ahead of the first gold medal events on day three of the championships, Britain have already won four golds from a total of seven events.

They are on course to surpass their haul of seven titles at the 2007 championships.

The British women's pursuit team of Rebecca Romero, Wendy Houvenaghel and Joanna Rowsell secured their place in the final of the 3km event, after topping qualifying.

The trio posted a time of 3mins 25.725secs, and will meet Ukraine, who finished second fastest in 3:26.565, in the final.