By Ian Ritz

If youƒ?TMre familiar with athletics at Macalester, then most likely youƒ?TMve seen or at least heard of Heather Lendway ƒ?TM06. A four-year standout for the Scots in swimming, she has set numerous records for the school, and has several MIAC titles to call her own as well. She repeated as MIAC Champion this year in the 500m and 1650m freestyle events and also won the 400m individual medley. In addition to her stellar swimming career, she plays on Macƒ?TMs water polo team, and has garnered tremendous success in her time at Macalester. In speaking with her, it is clear that although the enthusiasm wasnƒ?TMt always there, the key to her success is a relentless work ethic and drive to excel. Mac Weekly: First, letƒ?TMs talk about the MIAC swim meet last weekend. I know you successfully defended the 500m and 1650m freestyle events. Did you think coming into the season that that was a realistic goal?
Heather Lendway: Yeah, I felt it was pretty realistic because I pretty much knew who was going to be around this year after people graduated. So I trained a lot this summer to prepare.

MW: What did you do for training?
HL: It was intense. Running, cardio, lots of abs. Seven days a week. Iƒ?TMm kinda obsessive compulsive about training.

MW: What are some of your thoughts reflecting on your career at Mac now that youƒ?TMre kinda at the end of things?
HL: Iƒ?TMve definitely really enjoyed it. When I first came here I thought I wasnƒ?TMt even going to swim. So yeah, it definitely has been a great experience.

MW: Why didnƒ?TMt you want to swim?
HL: Iƒ?TMve been doing it since I was eight. In the pool two and half hours a day. In high school I was so sick of it. I was counting down the days until the end of the season. A big reason why I swam was actually my sister who was a senior swimmer here when I was a freshman.

MW: We kinda already touched on this but, how has swimming affected your experience at Mac? Positively, negative, funƒ?Ý
HL: It definitely has been positive. One obvious thing is being on a team. Just being able to meet people from different years. You donƒ?TMt always get to do that in your classes.

MW: What was your favorite part about being on the swim team?
HL: One of the best things was having the opportunity to train in warm places. Hawaii, Florida twice and Hawaii again this year. Itƒ?TMs good because it gets kinda gloomy here in the winter.

MW: What are you going to miss the most about swimming and what are you going to miss the least?
HL: Iƒ?TMm going to miss my friends of course. Iƒ?TMll miss being able to work out all the time, have time available for that. Things Iƒ?TMm going to miss the leastƒ?Ýsometimes I get a little annoyed with some of the things that happen on the team. Weƒ?TMll just leave it at that.

MW: Moving away from swimming, what do you study?
HL: Math and Computer Sciences and a Statistics minor.

MW: Youƒ?TMre definitely an Olin-Rice major.
HL: Yeah, I live there.

MW: I know youƒ?TMre probably sick of people asking this question, as I am, but what are your future plans if any?
HL: Looking for jobs. Anything related to my majors really. I would like to take time off and travel. Itƒ?TMs kinda the last time to do that. Iƒ?TMd like to visit some friends, go to Europe, go someplace warm and hang out. Iƒ?TMve never really left the country so I probably should do something like that.

MW: To finish up, do you have any funny stories from the season?
HL: I got a dog this year, Bogart. Heƒ?TMs my biggest fan. [Head coach] Bob [Pearson] let him come to one of the meets this year and he had an orange cape on that said ƒ?oeMACƒ?? on it.

Heather Lendway will be competing in the NCAA National Swim meet March 7-11 in Minneapolis in the 400-yard and 1,650-yard freestyle and 400-yard individual medley events.