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Longest Haul Suits Young Gun Best

Posted on: Wednesday, 7 December 2005, 15:00 CST

By LAMPP, Peter

IF Palmerston North teen Cara Baker can swim a touch under 8min 47sec for the 800m freestyle next week, she could find herself in the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team for Melbourne.

After training with world class distance coach Denis Cotterell on Queensland's Gold Coast, the 15-year-old is adamant the 800 metres slog is for her. That's the longest race for females.

That means powering through 16 lengths of the Olympic-sized pool at the national trials which start in Auckland on Tuesday, going through the pain barrier.

"Afterwards I think, `thank God that's over' because I'm so sore, mentally and physically exhausted," she said.

Baker can take it. Her West End Aquatics coach Trevor Nicholls remembers he was hard on her when she was very young and Cotterell, a joint Australian coach of the year this year, is tougher, and louder. That might break some swimmers but not this outgoing young woman. She just bounces back.

"Denis pushes you so much but it is just better for you. I have improved so much since I went to Australia."

She aspires to university study in physiotherapy or sports science when she leaves school.

"That depends on how swimming goes. If I make the New Zealand team, I will probably be over here more often. The only thing I don't miss here is the weather."

With a host of national age-group titles on her resume, her parents shifted to the Gold Coast more than a year ago with their daughter's swimming in mind.

"I owe a lot to them; they've done so much for me," she said.

Cotterell's programme in the outdoor Miami Swimming Club pool appealed because he coaches world 1500m champion Grant Hackett and worked with Michael Klim and Daniel Kowalski.

"To be the best, you have to train with the best," she said.

More than that, Nicholls said the Manawatu swimmer of the year has already fashioned a reputation as the team's best trainer in the pool.

This is someone who taught herself to swim before joining Nicholls' squads.

She also had to switch from Palmerston North Girls' High School to Robina State High School where she has fitted in nicely. She has little time for a typical teenager's social life.

"You have to give a lot away so for me it's reading -- I'm a bit of a bookworm -- sleeping and eating."

Next week at Henderson, she must beat the qualifying times. Her other specialty is the 400m freestyle where Helen Norfolk in the Kiwi star. Baker routinely swims 4m 21sec but will have to get under 4.17.

A win, and a first in the 800m is a possibility, and she'd be on the team to the world short-course championsips in China next year. No in New Zealand gets the power distance training swimmers do in Australia.

Baker has other strings, individual medleys. She is ranked No.2 in New Zealand in the 400m medley but at Auckland that clashes with her 800m race.

"It's all on the day."

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Source: Evening Standard; Palmerston North, New Zealand

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