LEXINGTON — If Hannah Stevens’ opponents thought keeping pace with her in the pool was challenging, they ought to try catching up with the Lexington senior on dry land.
It can be every bit as daunting.
The 18-year-old Stevens competed in the 2013 Speedo Winter Junior National Championships in Greensboro, N.C. last weekend. She placed sixth in the ‘A’ final of the 200-yard backstroke in a time of one minute, 56.71 seconds, eclipsing her personal best time by more than three full seconds.
In an event that drew more than 1,200 of the best high school-aged swimmers (18 and younger) from across the nation, Stevens also established personal records in the 50 freestyle (23.44 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (53.77 seconds).
“It was a pretty good weekend,” the unassuming Stevens said.
Just how fast was Stevens last weekend?
Her PR in the finals of the 100 backstroke was almost a full second faster than her Division II state meet record time of 54.73, set last February in Canton. Stevens also won a state championship in the 100 freestyle and was selected the girls swimmer of the meet.
“She had PRs every time she hit the water last weekend,” said her father, Bob, a former collegiate swimmer at the College of Wooster. “She is so far ahead of where she was last year at this time.”
And with good reason.
Stevens, whose older sister, Elli, is a senior swimmer at Youngstown State, is a member of the Greater Columbus Swim Team of Ohio. She practices with her club team four nights a week for three hours a night.
“I could probably make the drive down I-71 with my eyes closed,” Stevens said. “You get used to it, though.”
In addition to her club team practices, Stevens works out with the high school team on Fridays. High school meets are typically on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays.
“It can get a little hectic,” Stevens said. “I’ll come home from school and study until five, then go to practice in Columbus. I practice five or six times a week and practices are typically three hours.”
It’s no wonder, then, that the University of Missouri offered Stevens a scholarship. She signed with the Tigers last month.
“Her work ethic is second to none,” Lexington swim coach Brock Spurling said. “She just keeps getting faster and faster and once she gets to Missouri, she’s only going to get bigger and stronger. The sky is the limit for her.”
Stevens already owns nine of 11 individual and relay records at Lexington.
“Nothing she does in the pool surprises me any more,” Spurling said. “She is such a hard worker.”
Her training will reach another level when she arrives on campus in Columbia.
“When you get to that level, your are practicing nine or 10 times a week in addition to the weight lifting program,” Stevens said. “That is what it takes to compete at the highest level.”
As it is, Stevens said she spends about 20 hours a week in the pool. Does she ever get burned out?
“There are times when I think to myself I could use a break,” Stevens said, “but I love the sport.”
Like any elite athlete, Stevens has her sites set on the Olympics. The 2016 Games are in Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 Games are set for Tokyo.
“Sure, I’ve thought about it,” Stevens said. “Every athlete wants to compete at the highest level, to measure themselves against the best in the world.”
Her father can’t wait to see what the next few years have in store.
“Once she gets to Missouri, she’ll be in a very competitive swimming environment,” he said. “If she wants to take a year off of school and train for (the 2016 Olympics in) Rio, she has my blessing.
“Her education is very important — and she’s almost a straight-A student — but not many athletes ever get the opportunity to represent their country in the Olympics.”
Follow Curt Conrad on Twitter @curtjconrad.
