The Junior Pan American Track Cycling Championships in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, kicked off its 1km time trial qualification round on Friday morning with a stunning display of speed from young Barbadian rider Arielle Greaves, who delivered yet another record-breaking performance to stamp her authority on the event.
Crossing the finish line, Greaves posted an extraordinary official time of 1 minute 12.011 seconds, a result that not only secured her a spot in the afternoon’s final as the fourth-fastest qualifier but also etched a new junior national record next to her name. The mark improves on her own previous benchmark of 1:15.601, which she set just months earlier during a competition in Lima, Peru in 2025.
Greaves’ latest standout performance comes on the heels of an already impressive showing earlier in the championships. On Wednesday, she notched another new national junior record in the opening round of the flying 200m event, though her run in that competition came to an end at the quarterfinal stage. Undeterred by that early exit, the young rider bounced back with focused determination to deliver a career-best effort in the 1km time trial qualifier.
Speaking to reporters immediately after her qualifying ride, an energized and self-assured Greaves shared her excitement about the result, crediting much of her success to the guidance of team mechanic and personal mentor Elisha Greene. “The ride felt really good from start to finish,” she said. “I went out onto the track and stuck exactly to the race plan we mapped out together.”
“Qualifying fourth overall is an incredible starting point for my medal hunt, and getting another national record on top of that has given me a massive confidence boost heading into the final,” Greaves added. “I’m really looking forward to competing this evening, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got, and my goal is to take home the win.”
Deidre Hinkson, manager of the Barbados national team, spoke publicly about the team’s immense pride in Greaves’ groundbreaking achievement, highlighting the extraordinary barriers the young athlete has overcome to reach this point. Unlike many competing nations, Barbados does not have a dedicated domestic track cycling training facility, forcing Greaves to relocate for her preparation ahead of the continental championships.
“Arielle is such a strong, driven young athlete, and she has all the tools to go as far as she wants in this sport,” Hinkson said. “Even without a home training track, she has still managed to pull out the best performances of her career here. We are incredibly grateful to Trinidad and Tobago for opening their facilities to her to let her prepare for this event.”
As Greaves prepares to line up for the 1km time trial final in Heat 5 this afternoon, Hinkson said the team is placing no unnecessary pressure on the young rider. “We just want her to go out, leave every ounce of energy on the track, and do her best,” Hinkson explained. “Whatever the result, if she gives 100% effort, we will all be thrilled. A medal would just be the perfect cherry on top of what has already been an incredible championships for her.”