Washington teenager Alijah Beatty rides around an embankment during a race earlier this year at the Olympic Training Center Velodrome in Colorado Springs, CO. Photo courtesy of Mark Beatty.

There are different styles of competitive cycling Washington teenager Alijah Beatty has tried over her career. The Iowa Mennonite School junior has competed in cyclocross, road races, time trials, criteriums, and just started track racing earlier this year. Track racing is more commonly known as velodrome racing, an all-seasons type of racing where you use single speed bicycle to navigate along an embankment.

Despite her limited experience, Beatty has her eyes set on qualifying for the Jr. Track Worlds, June 14-18 at the LeHigh Valley Velodrome in Trexlertown, PA. If successful, she will join the USA Cycling Track World Championship Team, representing the USA. Junior Track World Championships will be July 20-24 in Aigle, Switzerland.

Beatty’s upcoming road race schedule has her competing in multiple events next week across eastern Iowa. She will participate in the Snake Alley Criterium in Burlington on May 28, the Melon City Criterium in Muscatine on May 29, and the Quad Cites Criterium in Davenport on May 30.