HAWAII GROWN REPORT
MATTHEW B ZIMMERMAN / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN
Whitman College swimmer Alexis Jinbo-Doran, an Iolani alumna, holds five school records, including the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events.
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Different strokes
Alexis Jinbo-Doran has put academics first, but she's still a record-setting swimmer
ALEXIS Jinbo-Doran decided during her junior year at Whitman College that she wanted to double major, adding English to the biology major already in the works.
For the record
Alexis Jinbo-Doran is leaving her mark on Whitman's all-time lists
INDIVIDUAL
First:
100-yard breaststroke, 1:08.40, set in 2004
First:
200-yard breaststroke, 2:28.02, set in 2006
First:
200-yard individual medley, 2:14.03, set in 2004
Seventh:
100-yard freestyle, 56.63, set in 2003
Eighth:
400-yard individual medley, 4:56.62, set in 2004
RELAYS
First:
200-yard medley, 1:53.64, set in 2006 (She also was on the team that held the record set in 2004)
First:
400-yard medley, 4:05.99, set in 2006
Source: Whitman College
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To accomplish that it would require a fifth year, a second senior season if you will, at the Walla Walla, Wash., school. Her parents, Michael Doran and Diane Jinbo, gave their approval for the extra year.
A captain her junior year, Jinbo-Doran became the first Whitman swimmer to have a provisional qualifying time for the NCAA Championships. She placed third in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Northwest Conference Championship meet in 1 minute, 8.4 seconds, breaking a nine-year school record.
But, after three seasons on the Missionaries team, Jinbo-Doran did not swim competitively last year.
"I took the year off because I wanted to focus on getting my biology major all together. I also was at the point where swimming took up a lot of time and was a lot of work," said Jinbo-Doran. "I may have just needed a break. There was a lot of stress and pressure that I didn't think I wanted to go through again."
The 2001 Iolani graduate already had set Whitman marks in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley, and was a member of the 200-yard medley relay team with the Missionaries' best time.
Jinbo-Doran chose English as a second major because she felt it would help in writing science papers. It was a different mode of studying from science, where a lot of memorization takes place. The year off was successful in terms of her academics and the thought of swimming competitively again crossed her mind.
"I talked with Coach (Jennifer Bloome). She said to come to tryouts, feel it out and see what happens," Jinbo-Doran said.
"I was certain I could manage to get everything done academically, that I had learned how to juggle everything. I felt refreshed, but I was kind of out of shape after not doing anything for a year. In terms of muscle mass and strength, I wasn't at the same place I was the year before."
She began the task of getting back into shape last fall. She didn't feel she was completely ready until the end of the winter training regimen.
"By the time of the (Northwest) conference championships, my motivation and desire to compete were back in place. It definitely became clear that competition takes practice and the will to compete takes practice," Jinbo-Doran said.
In her last event as a collegian, the 200-yard breaststroke, she bettered her school record with a time of 2 minutes, 28.02 seconds at the NWC meet.
She also was third in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:09.61) and fourth in the 200-yard individual medley (2:15.57) at the three-day meet.
"I think Alexis has the most flawless technique of any swimmer on our team. Every stroke is very efficient," Bloome said. "Alexis is primarily a breaststroker, but also is strong in the freestyle because she is fluid and a powerful swimmer.
"She had a great foundation of training for being a year-round club swimmer. I'm not sure if she was more happy at winning or setting a school record at the conference meet. Sometimes she can be a little stoic, but when she turned around after that event she was all smiles."
Jinbo-Doran said she thinks about records.
"I think 'Wow!' how cool it would be if I could pass a record. I just wish everyone could have that experience," Jinbo-Doran said. "There is a constant motivation to better your personal best. It was amazingly fun to just race and not worry about anything that day. It was my last chance to do it."
She started swimming competitively at age 11 with Rainbow Aquatics and for six years at Iolani, starting in the seventh grade. She was the Interscholastic League of Honolulu 100-yard breaststroke champion her first three years with the Raiders.
Jinbo-Doran considered Oregon, Oregon State, Washington State, Washington and Colorado College before deciding to attend Whitman.
"Alexis came to us initially checking out a smaller school and we responded pretty enthusiastically," Bloome said. "She looked at bigger schools, but I think the academic strength of the smaller school is what drove her here. It became pretty clear quickly what a talented swimmer she was. Alexis was a big asset for us."
Her father, an English teacher at Kalani, graduated from Washington State and was familiar with the Northwest. He felt Whitman would be a good choice.
"I wanted a school where I felt I could be competitive, but it wasn't so much about swimming. I visited Whitman and read everything about the school," Jinbo-Doran said. "I chose a school that was kind of similar to the experience I had at Iolani and the focus was on academics. I'm really glad I came, because I like Whitman a lot."
She decided on the biology major halfway through her sophomore year after taking classes in the subject. Between her junior and first senior years, Jinbo-Doran had the opportunity to work with a University of Hawaii professor at the school's research facility on Coconut Island.
"It was an awesome experience. There is so much learning in research. It is fascinating," Jinbo-Doran said.
She is working on her application to graduate school at UH, where she plans to major in either marine biology or zoology.
"My motivation is internal and I know I will get into grad school. Even if I take a year off, I know I'll go to grad school," Jinbo-Doran said.