Hayley Batten became the second American to qualify for the women's mountain bike event at the Tokyo Olympics, along with former world champion Kate Courtney. The American earned an automatic berth after finishing second in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Nove Mesto na Moravieh on Sunday.

Batten, a native of Park City, Utah, and a member of Trinity Racing, was phenomenal in the opening two rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

The 22-year-old was promoted to the elite women's category a year early and quickly showed herself to be one of the best riders in the world.

At the World Cup in Albstadt two weeks ago, she took the bronze medal behind winner Roana Lecomte (Massi) and world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Absolut Absalon-BMC).

"Honestly, I didn't know what I could do," Batten said. 'So to start the season like this is pretty incredible.'

Batten won the short track at the second round of the mountain bike World Cup in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, on Friday, ahead of Lecomte and Sweden's Jenny Lisvedos.

Following this victory, Batten took silver in the women's cross-country behind winner Lecomte and ahead of bronze medalist Rebecca McConnell of Prima Flor Mondraker XSauce.

The result, the only American rider to finish in the top eight, secured her a spot on the three-rider team for the elite women's mountain bike competition at this summer's Olympics.

Batten is one of two women, along with Courtney, who automatically qualified for the mountain bike team heading to Tokyo; according to a USA Cycling press release, one more starting position remains for the U.S. team, which is determined by discretionary selection criteria determined by.

The U.S. men's team was left to Christopher Blevins and Keegan Swenson.

The final Olympic team will be announced by USA Cycling on June 10, 2021.