Hello all, I apologize for coming in here with nothing to offer but to ask for direction on how I can better help my daughter in her sport.

My daughter has recently signed on two sprint triathlon events and both times she placed third and fourth in her age group and she was using a "chain store $200 bicycle"!
If that is something normal then I'm probably blinded by my fatherly love, but I believe if she had a better tool, she could've won the whole thing.
So I wan to buy her a better bicycle so she has a better chance to train and grow into the sport.
She is in college so tha means she is as well as I am on a really tight budget and can not afford luxurious items but we are as a family making an effort to get something good and appropriate for what she is doing.

She trains at a park (luckily is a big park with paved internal roads that keep her safe from cars, she rides with a group of girls that are all about triathlon).
She wants a road bike rather than a triathlon bike and I believe I agree with her, the tri bike could come later.
She has tested and liked a Cannondale Caad10, a Specialized Amira, a Orbea Orca Dama and a Specialized Alias.
So far the Caad and the Orca I can purchase around $1,100 both from last year on sale, the Amira is also from last year at $1,400.00 and the alias is the most expensive at 1,900!
I was leaning towards the Caad because is aluminum and in my mind I thought alu as sturdier tha carbon frames, the shops recommend the carbon saying it will be "softer ride" for comfort. Obviously the alias is expensive but if it makes such a huge difference I could use a credit card to finance half of it.
She likes them all and thankfully has test ride them all, but she also doesn't have a baseline to compare, I just think anything will feel better vs what she has rig now.
Just looking to spend our money wisely, some say buy the best frame possible because parts can be upgraded later but on the long run is more expensive this way, others say buy the best possible now.
Another thing that is a bit scary is about history, I recognize the Cannondale brand has been around since I was a child or even longer, I see specialized everywhere but I have never seen Orbea before so I don't know if those are as good as Cannondale and if those brands have good service or support should anything go bad.
Truly appreciate any help, I'm just trying to give her a good chance to stick and grow in the sport.
Again thank you all!
I just hope she is not reading this, she migh as well be a member here

J.