Allinson goes the distance

December 5, 2005

Kelly Allinson has never been further from her days as a Portsmouth High School swimming star. Not only is the 2003 PHS graduate in the midst of her junior year at Wheaton College, but she is also in Scotland.

Allinson is a Portsmouth native, but the city of Edinburgh is her temporary home until the semester ends in a few weeks. She is taking a leave of sorts from her duties as one of Wheaton's premier distance swimmers as she explores her heritage - her mother's maiden name is MacDonald - and tours what she calls "a beautiful country."

And while the psychology major is getting academic credit for being in Scotland, don't think for a minute she has lost sight of her commitment to the Lyons swim team.

"There is a pool and a gym here," she said. "I have tried to go whenever possible and run or swim."

The relative break has been welcome for Allinson, though, as she had shoulder problems last year.

It didn't seem to hinder her performance much, though. Last January she had a time of 5 minutes, 38 minutes, 23 seconds in the 1,000-yard freestyle, and was part of an 800-yard free relay team that finished 13th (8:36.66) at the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Championships.

Allinson also finished 14th overall in the 1,650-yard freestyle NEWMAC Championship race with a time of 19:23.41. Her times in the championship were slightly down from her sophomore year, but still solid considering her shoulder problems.

The 20-year-old admitted she plans on being rusty when she returns to the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass., but said going on a training trip to Florida with her teammates should cure that.

Wheaton's head swimming and diving coach, J.P. Gowdy, knows Allinson likely will need some time to get back to form when she first comes back to Wheaton. He doesn't expect that to last for long, though.

"The first couple weeks won't be easy for her," he said. "But Kelly's a very good distance swimmer. She could come back and score points right away in individual meets."

And while the Lyons were 6-1 heading into last weekend's Camel Invitational at Connecticut College without Allinson, Gowdy is looking forward to her return.

"It is an honor having her on this team, and not just because she's a good swimmer," he said. "For us, she just sort of has a finger on the pulse of the team. She's looked at as sort of a mom on the team."

That quality may stem from coming from a tight-knit family. She is the oldest among 19 cousins, which includes her younger brother Andrew, who swims and plays football for Portsmouth High School. Considering all that family, that motherly nature Gowdy speaks of is easily traceable.

So is her chosen career path, which is becoming an educational psychologist. Allinson said she wants to do so in the Portsmouth school system.

"I am a firm believer of helping children out of situations that they cannot help, such as child abuse or conflicts at school," she said.

Allinson is used to helping children, as she works each summer on our Seacoast as a lifeguard, swimming instructor and coach at Rye Beach Club.

She looks forward to returning there next summer, too.

"I am such a home body, so coming here was a very big deal to me and my family," she said. "When I went to Wheaton it was separation from home but I would still see my family on the weekends for swim meets. Now that I am here, I really haven't seen them at all."

The reality of being away from her parents, Mark and Patricia, and the rest of her family hit Allinson on Thanksgiving. She said it was a difficult day, but as she did last year with a bum shoulder, she got through it.

And now that she is coming home soon, she looks forward to picking up where she left off last year.

That means taking care of things in the swimming pool, but also taking care of others.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 2/21/07.
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