Greaves off to flying start at Cycling Championships

Barbadian junior cyclist Arielle Greaves delivered a sensational performance this morning in the flying 200m at the Junior Pan American Track Cycling Championships in Mexico, shattering the junior national record she set last year in Lima, Peru.

Greaves clocked an outstanding time of 11.319 seconds to finish third, eclipsing her previous mark of 11.800 seconds. Her remarkable ride secured her qualification behind the Colombian duo of Manuela Loaiza Zabala and Danna Martinez Mahecha, who recorded times of 10.747 seconds and 11.054 seconds, respectively.

The quarterfinals are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Barbados time, where Greaves will face Mexico’s Sofia Lopez Villarreal in Heat 3.

Greaves was in excellent spirits following her record-breaking ride and shared her excitement after the event.

“I’m extremely proud of this achievement. The hard work I’ve put in over the past few months has truly paid off. To lower my time from the previous mark I held just a year ago is a direct reflection of the improvements I’ve made. As I go forward into the quarterfinals, I’ll reset my mind and give it all I’ve got,” she said.

Team manager Deidre Hinkson also expressed immense pride in Greaves’ performance, highlighting the team’s objectives coming into the championships.

“The main goal coming into these Games was for Arielle to surpass the achievements she accomplished in 2025 in Lima, Peru, and her effort in her very first event clearly demonstrates how much she has improved. 

“She’s a strong athlete who is always willing to listen and learn, and that contributes greatly to her overall performance,” Hinkson said.

Coach and mechanic, Elisha Greene echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the team’s steady approach throughout the competition.

“We are taking it event by event. Arielle has put in the work, so once she remains focused, she will continue to do herself and her country proud,” Greene said (DH)