South Elgin high schooler taking her bike overseas
If you ask Jessi Prinner what she did over the summer, be prepared for a lengthy answer with an international flair.
The South Elgin cyclist - who just started racing four years ago - will be measuring her skills and stamina against the best young riders on Earth.
Prinner, a junior at Streamwood High School who won't turn 17 until September, is one of three Americans invited to the Junior World Cycling Championships in Moscow, Russia, in early August.
Prinner, whose nickname on her suburban cycling team is "The Powerhouse," said she's more excited than nervous when it comes to facing an international field.
"Personally, no matter what I do, as long as I try my hardest ... I'm going to be representing my country," she said in a telephone interview from San Jose, Calif., where she is training this week with the two other U.S. invitees: Coryn Rivera and Kendall Ryan.
Rivera beat Prinner by less than a second to win a national time trial race in Nashville in June and Ryan took first in a road race. Prinner finished third in that event.
In Moscow, the road race will be held Aug. 7 and the time trial, which is essentially a race against the clock, will be held Aug. 9.
Mike Farrell, who coaches Prinner, said she has made huge strides in her development. "It's big. She's racing with 17- and 18-year-olds," said Farrell, who also owns Prairie Path Cycles in Batavia. "This is her fourth serious year (racing). She started out when she was about 12. She's gained probably about 20 pounds (of muscle) and a world of experience in those four years. She's worked really hard."
Although Prinner is going to be in the spotlight, she said she would not be where she is today without support from teammates at Athletes By Design. She said the team helped give her rides to races, lent her equipment and raised money for her.
The club also is organizing three different fundraising rides on July 22 to help raise money to help pay for expenses not covered by the USA 2009 Junior National team. For details, call (630) 406-9749.
Prinner knows the intensity level will be much higher.
"Going to an international level is a huge jump," she said. "There is so much more talent, the fields are bigger and (the racers) get a lot more support."