Central's Kinder will compete in two events

If all goes well this weekend Central sophomore Hannah Kinder will spend less than three minutes in the pool during competition at the state swimming meet.

But those three minutes could land Kinder, the Tigers' lone state qualifier, with all-state medals in the 50 and 100 freestyle events.

"I'm hoping to get top three overall for each of my events, and definitely my best times," Kinder said.

Added Central coach Dayna Powell: "I think we're definitely looking to come back the second day. She's really only been beaten one time."

The two-day competition will be waged at the St. Peters Rec-Plex, with preliminaries on Friday and event finals on Saturday.

Last year's top time in the 50 free was 23.91 seconds by Caroline Johnson of Glendale. Marisa Rodriguez, a sophomore from Lafayette, has the top returning time after finishing second in 24.30. Kinder's top time in the event is 24.6.

Rodriguez also has the top returning time in the 100 free after finishing third at the state meet last year in 53.99. Kinder has clocked in at 53.79 in the 100. The sophomores have competed this season, with both picking up wins.

Kinder said they have something of a rivalry starting up.

"She has been swimming a lot longer than me, so she definitely has a leg up, but I'm really close," Kinder said.

For Kinder, it took a big time-cut in the 100 free at last year's conference tournament to show her swimming was the sport for her. Kinder won the event in 58.82, a time she has since cut by more than five seconds.

"I dropped two or three seconds, and that was a second off the state cut," Kinder said of last year's conference meet.

After the season ended, Kinder made the commitment to swimming year-round, a decision which has certainly paid off. Her improved times have her setting new goals.

"I want to make a U.S. Open cut," Kinder said. "For the 50 free it's a 23.89, and for the 100 a 51.89."

Added Powell: "She's gone from not even making the individual state cut a year ago to being one of the top high school swimmers in the state."

If Kinder can come close to those U.S. Open times, she should put herself in contention for a state title. Central has had two individual state champions and a relay state champion.

Powell said Kinder is just concentrating on racing her race.

"If you focus on being the state champion, you can get lost in the other stuff so we're not talking about that right now," Powell said.

If not for a state rule limiting swimmers to two individual events, Kinder would be competing for several state medals. She made the cut in six individual events, but will stick with 50 and 100 free.

"I think she enjoys those events the most," Powell said. "Those are the one's she's really stood out the most during the high school season."