Light solo's to women's criterium title

"I am thrilled to bits and can't really believe it," said the 24-year-old who claimed the silver medal in Wednesday's time trial.

"You have to find something special for the nationals and I guess I found it."

Light, a former track and field athlete who competed in steeplechase, launched an attack with 18 laps to go.

West Australia's Josephine Tomic and Tasmania's Belinda Goss made attempts to bridge to Light but the South Australian maintained her advantage to the end to win by almost 300 metres.

"I was just sort of testing my legs, the team plan was to have a crack and I thought it is about time I got up there and gave it a go," said Light, who was discovered in an Australian Institute of Sport talent identification program in early 2009.

"So with ten laps to go, I had already been out there for ages and I thought oh my god what am I doing out here, but I realised I had to keep going, because once you have a gap you can't give it up 'cause all the girls want it."

Canberra's Chloe Hosking took the silver medal in a bunch sprint, narrowly edging New South Wales' Megan Dunn on the line.

Hosking and Dunn were also awarded gold and silver respectively in the under 23 classification with Victoria's Peta Mullens (6th across the line) the bronze medallist in the U23 ranks.

“It is nice to win the U23 award but I came here to win,” said Hosking who rides professionally for the Columbia-HTC women's team.

“I am happy to have beaten the likes of Rochelle Gilmore and Belinda Goss, that is something really special to take away from the race, but it isn’t a green and gold jersey."

Like Hosking, Dunn was also happy with her podium finish.

“The best training is racing so to get a couple of medals on the way fills me with confidence,” said Dunn.

“It is great to see how women’s racing is developing; there are such a great bunch of young women coming through right now.

You only have to see how many U23’s are in the top of the results."

In the U23 men's race Victoria's Daniel Braunsteins launched a successful attack from the lead group with two laps remaining to secure the crown.

Canberra's Thomas Palmer finished just ahead of Queensland Malcolm Rudolph in a sprint finish for silver.

"This is the first national title for me and I had good form leading up from the Bay crits where I had a third (place)," said Braunsteins, who rides with the Drapac Porsche team.

With three laps remaining, the three placegetters were part of an eight man break away but Braunsteins chose his moment well and his rivals couldn't answer.

"I was just trying to be patient and make my move near the end and just as the race started to get hard, and in there were three of us (Drapac) in it, so it meant I could sit in a rest my legs a bit more," said Braunsteins.

"With two laps to go I hit them with everything I had, and got a gap and stayed away, so I am stoked."