What's more essential in a Crit race; light weight wheels or a light weight frame?

Wheel weight is more critical.

However, If the race is in level terrain, a more aerodynamic wheel gives you an advantage even if it is a bit heavier.

Less, more aerodynamic spokes give you some advantage as each spoke has to cut through the air. Unfortunately, less spokes typically means heavier rim.

Better bearings make a huge difference. Keeping them well maintained is very important.

Both my wheels complete with tires, gears, skewers weight 6 lbs (2.22 kg) and the whole bike 20 lbs (9.09 kg). You can get a bike like this for $700.

You can also try to loose 5-6 pounds yourself. That is more than you can take off from your bike.

really good wheels are not only just light they are stiff. This equals to a higher transfer of power. They will typically have high quality bearings which roll better. lower rolling weight is a huge advantage.

That being said you put high quality rims on an entry level bike it is like putting lipstick on a pig. Literally

High quality rims work better with a high quality bike.

I would choose to wait until I could afford both.

However I would choose bike over rims because a high quality bike will be speced with decent wheels worthy of the machine

In a crit it's wheel weight because this is a major compontent for acceleration and your ability to jump out in a sprint. Besides every racer needs any extra set of racing wheels.

In a crit race acceleration is important so a liter wheel set will help more.

I dont like ingesting everytime i drink in events i continuously discover those little pill looking issues in the backside of my drinks or a bitter style after ive long previous to the bathing room or somthing then i awaken not remembering what happend final night its so strange