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Britain's Victoria Pendleton lies on the track after crashing during her semifinal against Australia Anna Meares in the women's sprint at the Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, April 6, 2012. Rick Rycroft, Associated Press
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Britain's Victoria Pendleton, right, crashes during her semifinal against Australia's Anna Meares in the women's sprint at the Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, April 6, 2012. Rick Rycroft, Associated Press
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Britain's Victoria Pendleton, back, crashes during her semifinal against Australia's Anna Meares in the women's sprint at the Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, April 6, 2012. Rick Rycroft, Associated Press
By Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia — Katarzyna Pawlowska of Poland produced a powerful burst of speed in the final meters to claim the women's scratch race title at the world track cycling championships on Friday.

Jarmila Machacova of the Czech Republic made a break with four laps remaining, but could not maintain her lead and was overhauled by the pack in the final sprint.

Australia's Melissa Hoskins was second and Belgium's Kelly Druyts third.

Earlier, Britain's Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton was eliminated from the women's sprint after crashing out.

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Pendleton lost the first semifinal heat to Australia's defending champ Anna Meares when the Briton fell while contesting the sprint line.

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