Promising Seniors-To-Be 2007: Kirsten Smith

PHOENIX, Arizona, June 6. KIRSTEN Smith, who swims for Mike Morey of Athens Drive High and Paul Silver of the Marlins of Raleigh in North Carolina, is the next person featured in our Promising Seniors-To-Be series.

As of the June 4 National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) release of All-American candidates, Smith stood ninth in the 200 IM with a time of 2:01.45. She also posted a 4:53.09 on the 500 free applicant list.

Smith talked to SwimmingWorldMagazine.com after a busy end of the semester.

Was there a watershed mark in your career that made it clear you had a gift for the sport and could achieve big things?
When I got my first National/Olympic Trial cut in the 400 IM at Senior sectionals at Auburn when I was 13. I was pacing off Kirsty Coventry.

What type of interaction do you have with your coach when it comes to training? What kind of input do you have?
My relationship with my coach Paul Silver is one built on communication. I tell him everything I feel and think, even if he doesn't want to hear it. And, he tells me things I need to hear and some I don't want to hear. He lets me have input sometimes on my training, but I trust what he plans out for us.

What are your goals for your senior season?
Just to relax, enjoy my senior year, and get best times.

Who has made the biggest impact on your swimming career to this point?
The person who has made the biggest impact on my swimming is probably my older sister, Kelsy Smith. I started swimming because of her, and I like training with her because I push her and she pushes me to help me achieve my goals.

Have you verbally committed to any University? If so, which one and why? If not, who is in your top five and why?
No, I haven't. My top my colleges (in no order): Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and Arizona, and I haven't really thought past that.

What has the recruiting process been like for you?
As of right now, I can't really communicate with the colleges and my coach doesn't want me really focusing on trying to pick a college now.

Have you scheduled any official or unofficial visits to any school? If so, where and what type of visits do you have planned?
I have put my requests into Florida and Georgia. Again, my coach doesn't really want me thinking about it too much.

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