Katja Freeburn got a taste for competing at the highest level Thursday in Australia.
The Durangoan and Fort Lewis College freshman competed in the International Cycling Union’s junior women’s cross-country mountain bike world championship in Cairns, Australia.
She finished the four-lap, 11.68-mile course in 1 hour, 11 minutes, 27 seconds and placed 27th in the 45-rider field.
The world championship was won by Austria’s Laura Stigger in 1:03:27. France’s Loana Lecomte was second, 15 seconds behind Stigger. Nadia Grod of Switzerland claimed the bronze medal, 1:41 behind the winner.
The top U.S. performance in the junior women’s race came from California’s Gwendalyn Gibson, who was 17th in 1:09:30. USA Cycling teammate Savilia Blunk of California rode to the finish line with Gibson to finish 18th in 1:09:52.
Ezra Smith of Breckenridge was 35th in 1:18:15.
The junior men’s race was highlighted by Kevin Vermaerke’s 30th-place finish in 1:13:01. The Californian was 5:05 behind gold medalist Cameron Wright of Australia. Switzerland’s Joel Roth was second in 1:08:31, and Canada’s Holden Jones claimed third in 1:08:40.
Wisconsin’s Caleb Swartz finished 44th overall in 1:16:33. Calder Wood of Washington rounded out the U.S. showing with a 54th-place finish down one lap.
Friday’s racing will be highlighted by Durango’s Christopher Blevins. He will compete in the under-23 men’s cross-country mountain bike race seeking a medal.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
