Lakeville North swimmer Bodnaruk seeks to paint glorious finish

Lakeville North senior Alena Bodnaruk will conclude her prep girls' swimming career with one last appearance in the Class 2A state meet.

Bodnaruk earned first place in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle in the Section 2 meet. She won the 200 with a time of 1 minute, 54.42 seconds and the 500 in 5 minutes, 6.08 seconds.

She is also a member of the Panthers' 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams that advanced to the state meet, which will be held Monday through Wednesday at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

Here is a closer look at Bodnaruk:

Q: What is the best movie you've seen in the last year?

A: "Silver Linings Playbook."

Q: Three words or phrases my friends or teammates might use to describe me?

Q: Three songs I never skip on my iPod are …

A: … "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" by Coldplay; "Friday I'm in Love" by The Cure; "Forever" by Chris Brown.

Q: What are your three favorite apps?

A: Pinterest; Candy Crush; Instagram.

Q: How did you get started in swimming?

Q: What are your goals for the upcoming state meet?

A: I am hoping on making the top eight in my individual and relay events.

Q: To get focused for a meet, I …

A: … listen to music, visualize my races and watch swimming videos.

Q: What is your favorite meal prior to a meet?

Q: What is your most memorable moment as a high school athlete?

A: When my sister, Julia, and I placed first and second in the 200 freestyle at the section meet two years ago.

Q: Who is your school's biggest rival, and why?

A: It varies based on the sport, but for girls' swimming it's Prior Lake. Every year it's a very close meet, and we train with many of the Prior Lake girls during the offseason, so we are very competitive.

Q: How do you balance school and sports during the year?

Q: Who is your favorite college or pro sports team and why?

A: The University of Milwaukee Panthers because I'm going there next year to swim.

Q: Do you have a secret talent — and if so, what is it?

A: I like to oil paint.

Q: In 10 years, I hope I'm …

Q: What is the best sports advice you ever received?

A: "You have an abundance of strength and power within you that you have not even tapped into yet. You've been feeding into you inner powerhouse for many years. Don't be afraid to reach deep into that powerhouse, blast through that imaginary wall." – My mom