A Fierce Competitor

Ryan A. Mihalyi Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior swimmer Trina Jackson swims the breaststroke during practice at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center Monday. The women's swimming team will travel to Washington this weekend for the Pac-10 Championships.

Winning is nothing new for Trina Jackson, yet the junior freestyle swimmer enters each meet with the same intensity.

Jackson's thirst for victory has been apparent since her arrival at UA in the fall of 1996. Over her first two years swimming as a Wildcat, she compiled two Pacific 10 Conference titles, three NCAA Division I titles and was named to the All-American team eight times.

"I go out and swim as fast as I can, despite any conditions facing me," Jackson said.

But perhaps the most outstanding accomplishments in her career came before she joined head coach Frank Busch's squad.

As a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team, she earned a gold medal swimming a leg in the Americans' record-setting 800-yard freestyle relay (7 minutes, 59.87 seconds). Those four women made up only the second team in all of swimming history to ever record an 800 free relay time under eight minutes. Adding to her extensive list of accolades, she was also a silver medalist at the World Swimming Championships in the 800 free relay.

"Trina's experience causes her to be a fierce competitor," Busch said. "She takes her swimming very seriously."

This year, Jackson holds the second best time in the nation for the 1,000 freestyle and the fifth best time in the 500 freestyle. She has also automatically qualified for NCAA championship competition in the 500 free and 200 butterfly.

"Trina is an instrumental swimmer to this program," Busch said. "Her talent and leadership and ability to stay focused rubs off on all the girls."

Jackson attributes her success in so many events to entering each meet thinking that she can win, and not just that she might win.

The Arizona women's swim team is headed to Federal Way, Wash. this weekend for the Pac-10 Championships. Since its inception 13 years ago, Stanford has won every season. However, earlier this year, the Wildcats upset the Cardinal squad 162-112. Going into the meet, the Wildcats, including Busch and Jackson like their chances for their first Pac-10 title.

"We have swam strong in all of our meets this year," Jackson said. "Look for us to do the same this weekend."

Busch is also feeling confident.

"The teams are going to swim hard this weekend," he said. "We are coming into it very geared up."

Jackson identifies her role on the No. 2-ranked team in the country as a physical leader.

As one of the oldest swimmers on her team, Jackson said she enjoys the position she has been vaulted into. Whenever possible, she tries to help improve the intricacies of her teammates' strokes.

"I feel I am there for everyone on the team," she said. "However, I don't tell them what they want to hear, but what they need to hear."

Busch said the most valuable asset Jackson brings as a leader is through her actions.

"All the girls look up to the intensity with which Trina swims," he said.

The team that Jackson swims with this year has a very different look to it. Though one would think having a team made up primarily of freshmen and sophomores would be a distinct disadvantage, but Trina said it is quite the opposite.

"This year has been a bit more fun and relaxed," she said. "The newer girls bring laughs and jokes."

Jackson added it has not worn down the team's caliber of swimming, which is certainly evident in its dual-meet record of 10-1.