Cycling-Australia's Mactier wins pursuit gold

MELBOURNE, Mar 19 (Reuters) Australia's Katie Mactier fended off team mate Katherine Bates to win the Commonwealth Games women's individual pursuit today.

The world champion and Olympic silver medallist, who broke the Games record in her semi-final, clocked three minutes 35.196 seconds to edge Bates into silver. Bates clocked 3:37.089.

Bates, the points race gold medallist, stuck with the Melbourne-born Mactier for the opening two laps of the 3000m but ad no answer when her team mate increased the pressure.

England's Emma Jones, who recovered from a broken back last year, beat New Zealand's Alison Shanks to the bronze medal, winning their race-off in a time of 3:40.057.

REUTERS PM KN1501