Chelsea Miller competes in the butterfly leg of the women’s 200-yard IM at the 2007 Alamo Holiday championships. Photo by Marvin Pfeiffer

Chelsea Miller has one goal in mind when she competes in a swim meet.

The Clark sophomore doesn’t want to just give her best effort. She wants to be the best swimmer in her events, period.

Presently, her attention is directed at being the best in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley in this weekend’s District 27-5A Swim Meet at Northside Independent School District’s Loop 1604 pool. Top performances can qualify Miller for the Class 5A Region 7 Meet. A good showing there could qualify her for the Class 5A State Meet. After that, the sky’s the limit.

“I want to get a gold medal every time I compete,” said Miller, who has already had her share of gold this season. "I want to go to state. I would like to go to national and international meets. Some day I want to swim in college.

“Every day in practice, I remind myself I have to get stronger to be the best. Swimming is such an individual sport. You’re always being compared to other swimmers. When I am being compared, I want to be the one people are talking about.”

The IM and the 100-yard breaststroke are the ideal events for a competitor like Miller.

Both offer different challenges, which is what makes the situation enjoyable. “I love the breaststroke, because you are shooting through the water and going and going,” Miller said. “I love the IM, because it is so difficult. It is everything put into one. You have to think about it and prepare for it.”

Preparation might be Miller’s No. 1 strength. Not only does she take care of the physical part by training daily, the Clark swimmer’s self-motivation keeps the mental phase solid.

She works hard all week. The night before the meet, Miller really gets into her competitive zone by focusing on what she’ll be up against come meet time.

Encouragement from her parents, Clark coach Anthony Plummer and her teammates goes a long way. In addition, listening to music from such groups as Lincoln Park adds that final touch.

“I love the music, because it is real intense stuff,” Miller said. “That keeps me going. You need intensity to compete. You have to keep going even when you are dead tired. The only time you’re allowed to quit is when you are finished.”

Plummer saw Miller’s determination last season as she went to the Region 7 meet as a freshman. She came up short in her bid for the state meet, but the effort convinced the Clark coach that it is only a matter of time before Miller has her big day.

“I think she has a good chance to go to state this year,” Plummer said. “She is one of the hardest training athletes I have ever coached. She enjoys working. She knows what it takes to get better. She believes if she works hard, she will win.”

Now, she’s ready to prove that in her own special way at the 27-5A meet.