A day after her 22nd birthday, Dahria Beatty let the cross-country ski world know she’s arrived.

Matched up on the start line against many of the biggest names in the sport, the Whitehorse resident was grinning from ear to ear following a career-best 15th place finish against the cream of the crop in cross-country skiing.

Beatty not only qualified for the heats for the first time at a World Cup yesterday on the Ski Tour Canada in Canmore, Alta., but came agonizingly close to securing one of two lucky loser spots in the semifinals.

“I had a lot of energy,” she said in a press release.

“The coaches said to just race and don’t be afraid to go to the front. I found myself up at the front at the beginning. Those top-three girls caught back up at the top of the climb, but I just kept pushing hard.”

Dropping to fourth in her pack of six, Beatty capitalized on a fall by World Cup leader Therese Johaug while cornering at the bottom of the first hill – an area that caught many off guard.

“When Johaug took a tumble, she was able to pull me back in it a bit,” said Beatty. “I pushed really hard and just missed out on a lucky loser position by .3 of a second. My best result at world juniors is 15th so to be able to have that same result here on a World Cup is amazing.”

The Norwegians swept the women’s podium with Maiken Caspersen Falla winning the stage.

Beatty becomes the latest young Canadian to take advantage of having a start position at a string of World Cup races on home snow to deliver a breakthrough performance.

Last Wednesday, Yukon skier Knute Johnsgaard earned his first World Cup points, placing 29th in a skate sprint in Gatineau, Que. – stage one of the Ski Tour Canada.

The top-30 result not only meant qualifying to race in the sprint heats head-to-head against multiple Olympic champion Petter Northug, but also cemented Johnsgaard’s position with the Canadian national ski team for the 2016/2017 season.

The result, as second top Canadian is a personal best for the up-and-coming Yukon skier.

The Ski Tour Canada is a historic event taking place this month.

For the first time the world’s top athletes are racing on Canadian soil for eight World Cup races – four in Quebec and four in Alberta.

The tour ends Saturday.

Beatty’s success is the latest in another solid season for Yukon skiers.

Late last month, Natalie Hynes and Kendra Murray represented Canada at the junior/U23 world championships in Rasnov, Romania.

Both girls skated to second-place finishes amongst Canadians.

Earlier in February, Beatty was joined by Whitehorse skier Caelan McLean at the Haywood NorAm Western Canadian Championships in Prince George, B.C.

Beatty won two golds while McLean swept up a silver.

Beatty is the current leader on the Haywood NorAm circuit.

The season will conclude later this month with the country’s best skiers gathering here in the Yukon capital.

The Canadian cross-country ski championships will run March 19 to 26 at the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club.

Approximately 500 athletes and support staff are expected to hit town for the largest event the club has ever hosted.

Beatty, Johnsgaard and Yukon Olympian Emily Nishikawa will all be in attendance, as will national team standouts Alex Harvey, Devon Kershaw, among others.