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RICHLAND Hanford junior Kristen Bennett has so far had a noteworthy career as a long-distance swimmer.
To begin with, her fourth-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle (5:09.02) and seventh in the 100 butterfly (59.85) at last year's 3A state finals also set new school records.
And, as a member of the Tri-City Channel Cats this past summer, Bennett ably demonstrated her long course mettle while representing the region at the Western Zone Swimming age group championships Aug. 4-8 in Waipahu, Hawaii.
She won the 400 individual medley (5:13.25), 400 free (4:35.10) and 800 free (9:34.28), placed third in the 1500 free (18:40.68) and sixth in the 200 fly (2:33.50).
"I dropped some time," Bennett said, satisfied overall with her results. "So, hopefully that will go over in the short course, too."
"She usually gets out quick and holds on," Channel Cats coach Todd Stafek said of Bennett's racing style. "She doesn't fall off the pace and is able to maintain that pace for however long.
"For her, a lot of things are mental and, when she is really motivated to win a race, I think she performs really well," he added. "I know she has the training, but it's more the mental part of it that either makes or breaks her. At this meet, at Zones, when she saw that she had a shot at winning, that's when the endurance came into play. She finished really hard, really well."
Bennett said that sharpened awareness and command of her skills was not achieved overnight.
"Lately, I've changed my mental take on things. I used to psych myself out, (but now) I'm going to swim my race and not think of the times other people are going, but still try to beat them," she explained.
Bennett said personal dissatisfaction with what she perceived as a faltering performance was catalyst enough for a newfound focus.
"I was adding time, constantly, at every meet for a year or two," she said. "So much of it is mental, I'd focus too much on having to get a best time ... and get too caught up in that.
"You have to be motivated by yourself, not an outside source."
But as serious as Bennett take her sport, she still finds time for levity -- especially at practice, where she lets loose a lot of her pent-up energy.
"Practice is so hard that if you don't go there and laugh and joke around, you're not going to make it through," she said.
But even as the 16-year-old has demonstrated a certain mastery over her chosen events, she also regards another athletic endeavor as a dream sport.
"I think it would be fun to try out for gymnastics, but I'm a little too old for that," Bennett said. "That they can do all that stuff is amazing."
Girls swimming at a glance
CBBN
2008 champions: Eastmont (duals and 4A districts); Hanford (3A districts).
Returning state qualifiers: Sammy Hendrickson, soph., Moses Lake (diving); Courtney Schwiesow, soph., Moses Lake (500 freestyle); Megan Pickett, sr., Richland (200 IM); Megan O'Leary, soph., Southridge (200 free); Katie Smoot, sr., Southridge (diving); Tori Jones, jr., Walla Walla (200 free, 100 backstroke); Jessica Hutton, jr., Walla Walla (100 free); Megan Maynes, sr., Hanford (200 free); Kristen Bennett, jr., Hanford (100 butterfly, 500 free); Melissa Merrill, soph., Hanford (100 free); Christine Tixier, jr., Hanford (100 fly, 100 breaststroke); Toni Castillo, jr., Sunnyside (50 free, 100 fly); Marisa Broersma, soph., Sunnyside (100 breast).
Diving in: Walla Walla gets back a pair of former state placers in seniors Erica Burmood and Annie Erickson, which puts the Blue Devils right in the thick of the dual-meet title race with perennial favorites Eastmont and Wenatchee. Richland last won the title in 2001 but adds freshman Nicole Weinman, the younger sister of Nathaniel. Senior diver Mikaela Niles, a state qualifier in 2006, returns to Southridge. In 3A, Hanford has a team that could finish in the top 10 at state -- especially if the Falcons can add freshman Stephanie Tixier, whose status is pending an eligibility hearing.
CWAC
2008 district champion: Ellensburg (duals and districts).
Returning state qualifiers: Hanna Rankin, sr., Prosser (100 fly, 100 back); Mackenzie Gant, jr., Prosser (500 free, 100 back); Bre Beierle, sr., Prosser (100 breast).
Diving in: Natilee Ruiz, who won the 50 free and 100 backstroke state titles as a freshman at Othello, did not turn out this season in order to play volleyball for the Huskies. Prosser has its three returning qualifiers as well as senior McKenna Elliott, who swam on a pair of relays at state the past two years.
