AT just 14 years of age Tess Wight’s cycling career is already on a steep trajectory.
After an impressive year of racing on the road and the track in 2018, Wight has been selected in the South Australia state junior track team, set to contest the national championships in Brisbane next week.
More impressive is the fact it is the first year for Wight at the Under 17 level.
Under the tutelage of state coach James Glasspool she has flourished, finishing fifth in the national junior track series last year, along with a win in the individual pursuit, which aided her selection.
She also claimed the national Under 15 criterium title in Bunbury last year, to add to her growing list of achievements.
Wight will head to the Anna Meares Velodrome for the junior track championships and while no particular events have been confirmed, she has been preparing for the scratch race, points race, 500m time trial, individual pursuit and team sprint events.
Having competed in the national junior track series at the same venue last year, Wight said she looked forward to riding there again.
“It is nice,” she said.
“It is the newest indoor track in Australia – they had the Commonwealth games there.”
Compared to the concrete of the Blue Lake Sports Park velodrome, Wight said the Anna Meares Velodrome was much better to ride, faster and with no interference from the elements.
She said she enjoys the variety of track cycling, but does have a couple of favourite events.
“The individual pursuit is probably my favourite,” she said.
“It is basically two kilometres by yourself and you go as hard as you can against the clock.
“I have predominantly trained for that, so I hope to do well.”
Wight said the points race – run over 15km, with sprints every few laps – was tough and she was keen to do well in the team sprints event.
However, Wight has one main aim for the championships, which revolves around times set for the individual pursuit at the South Australian Sports Institute.
“Being my first year I really just want to do personal bests,” she said.
“I still want to be up there, to give it a crack.
“But I really want to try to get second-year SASI times.”
To achieve that, Wight will need to drop three seconds off her current individual pursuit times, something she said was possible on the faster indoor venue.
While Wight is also no slouch in road events, she certainly has a passion to push herself to the limit on the track.
“I like both road and track, but I think track is more interesting,” she said.
“I like making new PBs and there is always something new to improve.
“Track is a lot faster, more intense.
“You are off the bike quicker and rest, then you are keen for your next race.
“You also get to meet a lot of people.”
Wight goes to Adelaide on Saturday, before heading to Brisbane on Monday, with the championships set down for March 28-31.
