Trinidad and Tobago’s emerging sprint cyclist, Makaira Wallace, is set to make history as the first female sprint cyclist from her nation to compete at the 2025 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Santiago, Chile, from October 22–26. Wallace, a product of the JLD Cycling Academy, has already broken barriers by becoming the first female sprint cyclist from Trinidad and Tobago to participate in a UCI Track World Cup earlier this year. At the Peñalolén Velodrome, she will compete in the sprint, keirin, and kilo time trial events, marking a significant milestone for women’s cycling in her country. Wallace described her qualification as surreal and expressed her excitement and determination to perform at her best. She has been intensively training in Canada, focusing on improving her speed and endurance. Wallace’s mother, Cori, has been a pillar of support, closely monitoring her progress and rankings. Wallace secured her spot through the UCI women elite sprint nation ranking system, finishing among the top 30 sprint nations globally, with Trinidad and Tobago ranked 21st. Joining her in Chile is her coach and former Olympian Njisane Phillip, who has come out of retirement to compete in the sprint and keirin events. Phillip, currently ranked 22nd in the UCI men’s elite sprint ranking, praised Wallace’s achievement as a breakthrough for women’s cycling in Trinidad and Tobago, highlighting the untapped potential within the local cycling system. Both athletes expressed gratitude to their sponsors, Pharmaco, for their support in their World Championships campaign.
Makaira Wallace is TT’s first female sprinter to seal Track Worlds debut
