Q&A With Junior Kirsten Jones
11/13/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Nov. 13, 2006
Junior Kirsten Jones (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) ended last season as part of the fifth place 800-yard freestyle relay team in the ACC Championships (7:23.92). Also at ACCs, she finished 15th in the 400 individual medley, 19th in the 1650 free with a career best (17:23.67), and 19th in the 200 backstroke with another career best (2:05.55). So far this season, Jones won the 500 free and placed third in the 200 free in the season opener against Johns Hopkins. She also placed third against Duke and NC State in both the 200 and 500 free. Jones talks about her time at Maryland, the current season and her personal interests.
Q: Who is your greatest role model?
Jones: My greatest role model is my cousin Michael, who has been battling brain cancer for 18 years now.
Q: What is something you do before every meet?
Jones: I listen to some music, stretch, and paint my nails.
Q: Have you ever played any other sports?
Jones: I played basketball up until high school and then just focused on swimming.
Q: What is your favorite movie, TV show, and athlete?
Jones: My favorite movie is Ace Ventura, favorite TV show is Grey's Anatomy, and my favorite athlete is Lance Armstrong.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
Jones: I like to hang out with friends, watch movies, and go shopping.
Q: Give me three words to describe yourself.
Jones: Three words to describe myself would be hard-working, easy-going, and determined.
Q: If you could meet anyone in the world who would it be?
Jones: I would really like to meet Lance Armstrong .
Q: What is the best thing about being a student athlete in college?
Jones: You get to meet and interact with a variety of different people from the United States and other countries.
Q: What has been your greatest athletic thrill?
Jones: Swimming in the 2004 Olympic Trials.
Q: What do you see as being your role on the team this season, as an upperclassman?
Jones: To try to show the younger girls what it is like to be a part of a team like we have here, and help guide them through their first year.
Q: What has been your favorite class you have taken at Maryland?
Jones: EDSP 210 (Intro. to Special Education) with Dr. Drakeford,
Q: What is something interesting about yourself that most people do not know?
Jones: I can touch my tongue to my nose.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Maryland?
Jones: Attending the nationally ranked sports events, and the amount of support that is given to all of the athletes.
Q: What is your best memory at Maryland so far?
Jones: Winning ACC championships my freshman year.
Q: How have you grown as a swimmer since you have been at Maryland?
Jones: I have become more of a team player and come to learn that winning as a team is much more thrilling than as an individual.
