Manteca resident Dominic Duran has made a quick rise in the BMX circuits. He recently returned from the International Cycling Union BMX 2012 World Championships with a third-place finish in the 5-6 year-old division in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Duran made the international trip competing against the world’s elite riders through fundraising and donations. He cruised through five rounds of preliminary heats before combining with two other American riders for a clean sweep for Team USA in the division championship race.

Duran’s third-place overall finish puts him atop the top-tier of the young riders, finishing behind only Dane Morales and Linkin Garcia in the finale. Duran outlasted most of the field of 38 young hopefuls from Belgium, Argentina, New Zealand and Great Britain amongst other countries.

Duran opened the world championship journey with a second-place finish in his first race. He posted another second in the following round before delivering back-to-back-to-back first-place heats.

Duran arrived in Birmingham five days before the event, completing practice sessions on the main course and at a local track set aside for training. The six-year-old standout received an official USA Team jersey at the first team meeting.

Duran did reap the benefits of a familiar face during competition, spending time with Manteca resident Meghan Matthews who Duran knows from local training. Matthews made the most of her international trek, finishing second in the women’s 17-29 year-old cruiser division. Matthews was the lone American to place in her group.