There was no dream return to racing for New Zealand's Sarah Walker at the BMX world champs in the United States.
Sarah Walker Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Walker, who has had an injury plagued last couple of years, finished eighth and last at the world champs in South Carolina.
Walker hasn't raced for two months and it was the first time she had made a world championship final in three years.
The 29 year old was fifth in her first moto and fourth in the next two, just edging in to the elimination rounds by one point. It included a somersault crash, but Walker finished the race without any injuries
While she had to be content with eighth, Walker said she is still eyeing a possible fourth Olympics in Tokyo 2020.
Six New Zealand riders made it out of the qualifying motos into the elimination rounds on the early evening finals at the stunning Rock Hill complex in South Carolina.
Gisborne's Nick Fox, who qualified second, and Rio Olympian Trent Jones, who won his group, both went out in the round of eight, unable to replicate their impressive form from the motos.
Amy Martin from Hawkes Bay went out in the quarterfinals of the junior elite competition, in her first time at this level.
National champion Rebecca Petch (Te Awamutu) impressed in her first elite world championships.
