"I don't like to think about anything when I swim," she said.

Hence, the 50-yard freestyle is not just her favorite event. To date, it's her best race.

"I love the 50 free because it's short and all speed. No strategy is involved. I don't have to think."

The approach has worked well. As a freshman last year, Ford raced to victory in the event at the WPIAL championships. She earned All-America honors with her 23.63 winning time. In the process, she also shattered the school record in the event.

Indeed, Ford's triumph came as a shock to many.

"Katie came out of nowhere to win," said Lebo skipper Dave Schraven. "I have never been so excited as a coach. I think a lot of people were surprised that Katie won as she was a relatively unknown."

Indeed, Ford had been seeded No. 6. Plus, she was a freshman. Yet, she dropped 1.2 seconds.

"I can honestly say that I was not surprised that she won because I know how hard she works and I could see how fast she was swimming in practice leading up to the meet. But I was a little taken aback by just how fast she went. Her drop in time is an extraordinary amount for an elite swimmer."

Showing no sophomore jinx, Ford continues to submit more jaw-dropping performances.

This winter, she broke the 50 free record (24.6) at Norwin. Her 400 freestyle relay team also broke the pool record there.

Most recently, Ford shattered a long-standing pool record at Mt. Lebanon. She broke the 50 free record of 24.01 set by Alexis Fedorchak, a 1992 graduate and second Almanac Female Athlete of the Year.

Because she has a daughter in the swim program, Fedorchak encouraged Ford in her endeavors. "Alexis told Katie 'that record's been up there too long. Go for it,'" said Schraven. "So I think it was kind of special for Katie to get it."

Ford agreed. "I felt it was real nice of her," she said, "because it's her only record left on the board. When I broke it, I was really excited because the record was so old."

Schraven is excited about Ford's future. Because she has swum between 24 and 24.2 at least a half dozen times in the past month, Ford is well ahead of where she was last year at this time. So prospects are go for the end-of-the-season meets such as the WPIAL finals set for March 1-2 at Pitt and the PIAA championships March 16-17 at Bucknell University.

By the district championships, Ford anticipates being around 23 and eventually breaking that barrier. She is not tapering for WPIALs. Rather, she is gearing up for states.

She admitted while there is pressure to defend her title, she would not be too upset if she did not win the WPIAL event. "States is more important," she said.

Last year at the PIAA finals, Ford "flinched" on the start and was disqualified. That experience fuels her training says Schraven.

"I've set higher goals for myself," said the 16-year-old daughter of Mary Lou and Jim Ford. "Last year at states, I was very disappointed because I knew I'd go better than I did in the WPIAL meet because I was going faster in practices. There was not another chance after that."

Because she is swimming many different events this winter, Ford has more options this season. According to Schraven, Ford is a talented, all-around swimmer.

"One of the things I talked to Katie about last spring was that we didn't want her to be a 'one-trick pony.' There are a lot of swimmer who are able to swim a fast 50 free," said Schraven, "but they can't really do much else."

Over the summer months, Ford developed into an "excellent" individual medley racer. The event features all four strokes, butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and free. She also has improved her 100 fly and now ranks No. 3 in the state.

Additionally, Ford rates among the top backstrokers. She placed 12th in the race last year at states.

"We want her to be amongst the top swimmers in the area in virtually all the events," Schraven said.

Ford, however, isn't so eager. While she admits a fondness for the fly, she is not keen on the IM, which she swims to help her team score points in dual meets.

"It is torture," she said with a laugh. "It's a much longer event and I have to make sure I don't go out too fast."

That way she can hold on for the last 50, which, ironically, is the freestyle. "I do much better when I don't have to think," she reiterated.

Nobody thinks about Ford's motivation. She is driven.

"She is dedicated, conscientious and a hard-working athlete," Schraven said. "We are really just scratching the surface of Katie's potential. The sky is the limit for her."

A top three finish in the backstroke is a realistic goal for Ford in this year's district finals. "But, I'd like to win it," she admitted. Ford will be pushed in the race by friendly rivals such as Brittany Dudzinski. Upper St. Clair junior owns the top WPIAL time of 57.36 for the event.

Since Lebo and USC train together in the summer, Ford is familiar with Dudzinski. "She pushes me," she said. "It's good competition and it helps. It really does."

Workouts also help Ford develop her talent and lower her times. Because she also competes for the Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club, Ford trains twice a day, three times a week. Morning sessions run from 5 to 7 a.m. After a full day of school, she's back in the pool from 3 to 5 p.m. From 5 to 6, she does dry-land training.

"My opponents," she began. "The people I race against are working just as hard as I am. That keeps me motivated. I want to stay one step ahead of them."

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Katie Ford

School: Mt. Lebanon

Age: 16

Year: Sophomore

Parents: Jim and Mary Lou

Siblings: Chris, 19

Sport: Swimming

Achievements: WPIAL 50-yard freestyle champion, All-America in 50 free and relay. Pool record holder in 50 free at Norwin and Mt. Lebanon. School record holder.

Academics: 4.0 GPA. Will be inducted into National Honor Society this semester.

Clubs: Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club

Favorite swimmer: Ryan Lochte.

Favorite color: Blue

Favorite food: Chocolate Ice Cream

Suit brand: Speedo for racing; Nike for practice.

Car choice: BMW or Jeep.

Dream college: Florida or Texas.

Hobby: Painting, water colors or on canvas.