Heather Irmiger of the United States bagged the first gold medal of the 16th Pan American Games after winning women's cross country mountain bike event in Tapalpa Saturday morning.

Lorenza Morfín of Mexico placed second and Amanda Mae Ling Sin of Canada third.

Irmiger's winning time was 1:34.09; she finished 1:45 ahead of Morfin.

The medal ceremony took place in the main plaza of Tapalpa, a popular tourist town located in a pine forest 130 kilometers from Guadalajara.