Promising Seniors-To-Be 2007: Kathleen Hersey

PHOENIX, Arizona, June 16. KATHLEEN Hersey, who swims for Terrance Blish at the Marist School and Mark Minier at Swim Atlanta in Georgia, is the next swimmer to be profiled in SwimmingWorldMagazine.com's Promising Seniors-To-Be series.

As of the June 14 National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) release of All-American candidates, Hersey stood seventh in the 200 IM with a time of 2:00.21. She also clocked times of 24.02 (50 free), 51.24 (100 free), 1:52.27 (200 free) and 57.68 (100 fly) on the NISCA applicant lists.

Hersey, who just finished finals and SATs, sat down to talk to SwimmingWorldMagazine.com about her career to this point and her plans for the future.

Was there a watershed mark in your career that made it clear you had a gift for the sport and could achieve a big things?
When I was 14, I got my first national cut. After my race, my coach told me that we were just scratching the surface of my potential. Ever since then, I have been motivated to go as far in my swimming career as possible.

What type of interaction do you have with your coach when it comes to training? What kind of input do you have?
My coach, Mark Minier, always motivates and pushes me to do things that I would otherwise not have thought possible. Mark not only prepares me in the water, but he also prepares me mentally for every step I take in my swimming career. Leading up to the Pan American Games this summer in Rio de Janeiro, Mark has done everything he can think of to ensure that I am ready to swim as fast as possible.

We have regular goal-setting meetings and training meetings about what will be the most effective way of training. Mark is constantly looking for new ideas and different methods of training to improve stroke techniques while maintaining a balance of more "old-school-yardage" training. While he is tough and demanding on deck, he is always available if I need someone to talk to.

What are your goals for your senior season?
My goals leading up to 2008 are to keep improving at a steady level and to keep focused on the possibility of making the Olympic Team.

Who has made the biggest impact on your swimming career to this point?
Although all of my coaches, teammates and friends have shaped the person and swimmer I am, a great source of inspiration and a constant reminder of why I swim comes from a former teammate who passed away last December. Madeleine Brown's love for swimming and love for life is something that I work to mirror every day. She has made such an impact on many people at both my high school and at Swim Atlanta. Her incredible work ethic as well as her outgoing and fun-loving personality serve as a reminder of the fundamental reason why I swim: because I love swimming.

Have you verbally committed to any University? If so, which one and why? If not, who is in your top five and why?
Although it is too early to commit to a university, I am currently in the process of narrowing down my choices, all of which will be schools with successful swimming programs.

What has the recruiting process been like for you?
Because of NCAA rules, I have just received letters and e-mails from coaches and swim programs, but I look forward to July 1 when I can begin to think about where I will want to spend the next four years of my life.

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