Harper O’Donnell has his eyes on mountain bike prize after impressing on National stage

Young star Harper O’Donnell impressed on the big stage at the AusCycling Mountain Bike National Championships in Tasmania.

The 15-year-old, pictured, competed in four events at the championships at the Maydena Bike Park, near Hobart, with an elevation of 1100m and more than 73 mountain-bike trails.

The national championships were contested on a newly constructed course and featured an individual time-trial format.

O’Donnell qualified seventh in the under-17 category and placed 21st of the 50 competitors in the main race on March 14.

In the Enduro Fest on March 6 and 7, O’Donnell finished fourth in the under-17 boys’ race.

O’Donnell performed strongly in the Maydena King of the Mountain under-18 boys’ event to grab third place.

The young star qualified fourth in the under-17 boys at the National Pump Track Championships and progressed to the bronze medal race on March 12, finishing fourth.

“I am very happy with my results and I feel I gained plenty of experience, especially as it was my first year competing in the under-17 division,” O’Donnell said.

“It was awesome to meet and race against the top young riders in Australia.”

Hayden Kinnear, also from Albany, finished 15th in the elite men in the Enduro Fest.