Lara Jackson comes from the extreme western Texas town of El Paso. She just helped spur the University of Arizona women to a win at the NCAA Championship. She talks about that, and other things that move fast, in this week’s 20 Question Tuesday with special correspondent Bob Schaller.

1 What are you thinking about heading into Olympic Trials?

Lara: I don’t know. It’s pretty much the same no matter what the meet is.

2 What does that NCAA title mean?

Lara: It’s very blissful. We’ve been working hard for it for so long. It’s good to finally have it – to have that trophy in our trophy case.

3 How much did the men winning NCAAs mean to you?

Lara: It took every feeling from us winning and doubled it. We are so close, the men’s and women’s teams. We were as happy when they won as we were when we won.

4 How happy were you for coach Frank Busch?

Lara: I think his wife, Patty, put it the best. She said she had never seen him smile so long – consecutively. This is something we wanted to do not just for the team, but Frank.

5 Has it sunk in yet that you will, for the rest of your life, be known as an NCAA champion?

Lara: I guess I never thought about it that way. Arizona might win another one, but it will never (laughs) be as special as these two.

6 What kind of a teammate is Lacey Nymeyer?

Lara: Obviously, she leads by example. She is very intense in her training. You know that she always has what is best for the team in her mind.

7 What about winning it the year after Whitney Myers graduated? Wasn’t she still a part of this?

Lara: Yes. This title wasn’t just for the people who were there. It’s for anyone who has passed through the program, and anyone who is going to pass through the program. I remember the third night when we won, Whitney was debating if she should jump in, and I was like, “You are one of the main reasons we won. If you don’t jump in I am going to come get you!”

8 Does this hugely emotional experience help you heading into Olympic Trials?

Lara: I just think it is an advantage for us because we are all pumped up already. It’s momentum for us to take into Trials.

9 How big of an adjustment is it to go from short course to long course?

Lara: It’s not too much of one. The coaches like to mix it up for us anyways. We’re all down for it, ready for it.

10 Did you go to Olympic Trials in 2004?

Lara: I had barely started swimming fast (laughs) by then. I don’t know really that much about it. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to race against the best Americans.

11 How big is swimming in El Paso?

Lara: Basically, you don’t go from El Paso to anywhere for swimming. It’s not a huge swimming area. We have had some swim in college – Calvin Zielsdorf is one who was really good – but not many compared to a lot of programs.

12 What can you tell our readers about El Paso?

Lara: It’s a very unique place to grow up. It’s right on the border, so there’s a lot of cultural diversity, so that’s awesome. I came to Tucson and I was like, “Everyone here is blond!” El Paso is very cultural.

13 How does Tucson compare to El Paso?

Lara: I would say Tucson is a mix between El Paso and California. It’s not quite either one of them, just a perfect mix.

14 What kind of effect has coach Frank Busch had on you?

Lara: He’s helped to change my view of swimming. He’s such a classy guy, and I really respect that.

15 Is there anything he has said that has stuck with you?

Lara: There’s one thing in particular that he told us: “Why are you going to waste any energy on thinking negatively?” That really touched me. It’s true. Why not focus your energy on getting better?

16 How much attention do you and the men’s team have coming back to campus?

Lara: I think the campus might have been a little (laughs) in shock, like, “We have a swim team?” Swimming never really gets a lot of publicity, so it was nice for people to recognize that we work hard and recognize what we were able to accomplish.

17 What are your hobbies?

Lara: Actually, I have a horse down here. I see her three or four times a week. It’s actually my major – equine industry, so I am really into horses.

18 You brought your horse to college?

Lara: Yes, I have had her since I was a sophomore in high school. I had another before that, but unfortunately, she passed away. Apart from the great coaching staff, that’s why I came to Arizona. I had to bring Calypso, my horse – I would not go anywhere I could not bring my horse.

19 Has Lacey or Whitney ever ridden Calypso?

Lara: No, not those two. I tell them if they want to see her, though, they can. A couple of them have. Calypso is kind of a wild-child horse, though, so I have to be careful with her.

20 Will you focus on one event at Trials?