Pendleton through in sprint contest (From Echo)

Pendleton through in sprint contest

4:31pm Sunday 5th August 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2013

Defending Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton progressed to the second round of the women's cycling sprint competition on day four of competition at the London 2012 velodrome.

The 31-year-old is seeking a third Olympic gold in the event, which concludes on Tuesday's final day of track action, to become the most successful female British Olympian of all time.

After qualifying in an Olympic record of 10.724 seconds, six-time world champion Pendleton met Ekaterina Gnidenko in the first round and advanced with ease, overtaking the Russian on the back straight for a comfortable win.

Gnidenko was set to have a second opportunity to advance after falling into the repechage.

Pendleton was poised to ride in the second round on Sunday evening, bidding for a place in Monday's best-of-three quarter-finals.

Friday's victory in the keirin saw Pendleton move level with athlete Kelly Holmes, swimmer Rebecca Adlington and sailors Shirley Robertson, Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb on two Olympic gold medals.