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Jacqueline Denny has always been the outdoors type.

Nothing has ever shied her away from her love of competition. Not even the daunting task of triathlons.

“I’ve always enjoyed athletics,” Denny said. “I just had to find a sport that was right for me.”

She found it. Denny, a 16-year-old Liberty resident and junior-to-be at Faith Christian Academy in Kansas City North, earned the highest of honors at last month’s USA Cycling Junior National Championships.

Denny returned home from Bend, Ore., with a national title in toe. She placed first in the in the girls 15-16-year-old division of the 15-mile time trial race in 42 minutes and 23 seconds. Her previous best was a third-place finish in last year’s time trial.

“To win a national championship means I could have a good future ahead of me,” Denny said. “It just shows anything is possible.”

One of those possibilities could be a trip to the Junior World Championships next summer in Denmark. Only time will tell if Denny will have the opportunity of a lifetime and compete in the international competition.

Either way, she’s enjoying a new-found appreciation for the sport of cycling. Four years of competitive riding have already taken her across the country, highlighted by trips to nationals in Pennsylvania in 2007 and California in 2008. She’s also made friends coast-to-coast while competing with Team Kenda, which is based in Indiana with 80 members nationwide.

“When I was doing the triathlons, I always enjoyed the cycling the most,” Denny said. “I really enjoy the speed and racing the longer distances. It’s a test of speed and endurance, and I really enjoy that.

“I’d like to do this as a career. Cycling is a smaller sport, but I like doing something that takes commitment and devotion and something most people don’t do.”

Sports writer Chris Geinosky can be reached at 389-6654 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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