Washington cyclist Alijah Beatty (second from the right) competes in the La Crosse Criterium in March. Photo courtesy of Mark Beatty.

A Washington teenager is returning to the Midwest as the top criterium racer in the nation in her age division. Sixteen-year-old Alijah Beatty competed this past weekend in the 2015 USA Cycling Amateur Road Nationals in Truckee, California. Beatty challenged the field in three separate races; the road race, the time trial, and the criterium.

Beatty opened up the national event on Wednesday in the Women’s Junior 15-16 road race, placing fifth with a time of 2:37:16. The top seven places were decided by less than a second of one other.

She returned to competition on Friday in the Women’s Junior 15-16 time trials. Beatty posted another fifth place finish, clocking a time of 30:25.09.

She wrapped up her national appearance on Sunday in the Women’s Junior 15-16 criterium. Beatty crossed the finish line in first place, posting a time of 30:19. It was the fourth criterium race she has won this cycling season including: the Water Works Park Race in Des Moines on May 10, the Melon City Criterium on May 24, and the Grinnell Games Twilight Criterium on June 13.

A criterium is a multi-lap race of 25 to 60 miles held on a closed course generally a mile or less in length.