The perfectionist in Tristin Baxter comes out quickly when discussing her accomplishments at the Central Section swimming and diving championships.
“I’m happy with what I did, but it would have been nice if I could have been a little faster in the 200 [free] and 500 [free],” Baxter said. “I wanted to break 1:50 in the 200 and in the 500, I wanted to try and break 4:50.”
This from a swimmer who won both events, handily, in All-America times and has been selected The Bee's Girls Swimmer of the Year for the second time in three seasons.
Clovis West High's Tristin Baxter is The Bee's 2009 girls Swimmer of the Year.
Baxter’s 200 free time of 1:50.83 was nearly 2 seconds faster than her closest competitor.
Her 500 free time was even better. Section-record fast in fact, as her 4:52.42 was nearly 16 seconds better than the second-place finisher and just less than a second faster than former Golden Eagle Kristen Hastrup swam in 2003.
Oh, and the junior was also part of section-record breaking swims as the anchor leg of Clovis West’s 200 free (1:36.92) and 400 free (3:30.61) relay teams.
Her 2008 season, while successful, wasn’t quite up to the lofty standards she has set for herself because of a shoulder injury suffered in late 2007 while playing water polo.
But Baxter set the stage for a big season, and put fears of a lingering injury to rest, with wins in the 200 free and 500 free at the prestigious Mission Viejo Invitational in March.
“We saw it at Mission Viejo,” said Clovis West coach Steve Baxter, Tristin’s father. “From that point on, we knew she could swim at the highest levels and compete at a statewide level. That was an exciting time. At that meet, she proved she was still at that level.”
More about Tristin Baxter
Vitals: Clovis West, junior, 200 free, 500 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay
She’s qualified because: Pushed her three-year career total to 11 gold medals with two individual wins and two relay victories at the section finals, all in All-America times. She won the 500 free in a section-record breaking 4:52.42, the 200 free in 1:50.83, and was the anchor on section-record breaking 200 free (1:36.92) and 400 free (3:30.61) relay teams. Also won 200 free and 500 free at prestigious Mission Viejo Invitational. This is her second selection as The Bee’s Girls Swimmer of the Year. Was also The Bee’s Girls Water Polo Player of the Year.
He said it: “She’s a two-sport person and takes both very seriously. She’s a throwback. She will play polo five days a week and will go to three swim practices a week, which a lot of kids won’t do. And 48 hours after CIF, she was back in the pool. She’s a very dedicated young lady.” — Clovis West coach Steve Baxter, Tristin’s father
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Coach of the Year: Steve Baxter
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