Cyclist Palmer nabs two gold, bronze medals at Caribbean Championships
NATIONAL cycling champion Dahlia Palmer medalled in all three of her events at the Caribbean Cycling Championships (CCC) held earlier this month at the Bicentennial Velodrome in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Palmer took first place gold medals in the 250 metres sprint and keirin pace. Her 11.14 winning time in the 250-metre set a new Jamaican national record for the event. In the keirin pace Palmer made it through the elimination rounds to finish first in the B Final and clinch her second CCC gold medal.
Palmer also took a third-place medal in the 500-metre sprint match race. Palmer’s podium award ceremonies included raising the Jamaican flag and playing of the national anthem.
In addition to her three Caribbean Cycling Championships podiums, Palmer scored high-place finishes in the Pan American Championships cycling events. At the Panams she competed against elite level riders including Mexican world record holder Jessica Salazar and many competitors with Olympic experience. Palmer’s Caribbean Cycling Championships success is a step in international competition Palmer hopes will lead her to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Each finishing placement awarded Palmer valuable Uci/union Cycliste Internationale competition points needed for her to qualify for major international cycling events. Points awarded for Palmer’s CCC results will move her well up in the world top 100 cycling rankings.
Palmer, a native of Lucea, Hanover, currently lives in Trinidad where she trains under Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation coach Robert Farrier. She is currently funded by her Trinidad cycling team and a Us-based business while additional underwriting is sourced for her international competitions. Up next for Palmer is the UCI World Track Cycling Championships in Poland in February 2019.