Dahria Beatty finished just shy of qualifying for her first world championship sprint quarter-final.

The 22-year-old Whitehorse skier was the top Canadian female in the skate sprint, finishing 37th in qualifying rounds.

“I was definitely way more nervous over the last 24 hours than I have been for any World Cup this year. It is just a bigger atmosphere,” said Beatty, who is racing at her first senior world championships. “I felt really good in my race prep yesterday. When I got there today I just didn’t have that extra snap, but it was still really exciting to have raced in my first world championships.”

The FIS World Nordic Ski Championships are taking place in Lahti, Finland from Feb. 21 to March 5.

Knute Johnsgaard, 24, is also competing in his first senior world championships and was 53rd in the skate sprints.

The nordic race program continues Saturday with the skiathlon events – half classic technique, half skate technique.

Emily Nishikawa is scheduled to start her first event of the competition then, while Johnsgaard is also registered to compete.