Kansas swimming coach Clark Campbell might soon have to part ways with the woman he calls “one of the best swimmers in the history of the University.”

Senior co-captain Amy Gruber is preparing to swim at the World Championship trials, also known as the spring nationals, Tuesday in Indianapolis. The trials are held in conjunction with the US Swimming National Championships.

If Gruber swims better than 57.19 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle, she would make the Olympic trial standard cut. She could then use that qualification to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games.

The fastest swimmers in each event will be a part of the US National Team, Campbell said. The top six freestylers at the World Championships also make the cut, he said.

So far, Gruber’s best time in the 100-meter freestyle is 57.66 seconds. But Campbell said he has been telling her to visualize swimming near 56 seconds.

The meet will also feature long-course meters in an Olympic-style pool, rather than short-course yards used in Robinson Natatorium. Campbell said he was confident Gruber could build off solid NCAA meets and continue strong.

“Amy had the best NCAA meet of her life,” Campbell said. “Amy is experienced enough to take that speed and translate it into long-course.”

Gruber said she intended to be competitive, but would have a different mindset going into Tuesday’s competition.

“I’m looking at it as a completely different meet,” she said. “The NCAAs were hard for me because it was my last college meet. But I’m going into this meet to have fun. If I swim well, there’s a larger possibility that I will continue to swim.”

Campbell will accompany Gruber to the trials next week for what could be their last meet together. He said Gruber’s work ethic and mental toughness singled her out from other swimmers.

“Most of them are done in May, but it’s like Amy took the quantum leap,” he said. “She’s in a whole different realm right now.”

“She’s on a mission to finish her career on her terms,” he said.

Gruber is among the top 30 American Division I swimmers. After a four-year career at the University of Kansas, she owns

record times in a the spring freestyle and butterfly. Only KU swimming legend Tammy Thomas has matched her times.

Gruber credited some of her drive to succeed to Campbell, whom she considers a coach, supporter and friend.

“It takes a tough guy to coach 30 girls year after year,” she said. “He understands my disappointments and reminds me there’s always something to improve on.”

If Gruber decides to leave swimming, she said she really wanted to work in athletics. She said she would eventually like be an athletics director or an associate director.

But regardless of her decision concerning her future in swimming, Campbell said the KU swimming program would miss her.

“Amy has left her mark on the Kansas swimming program,” he said. “You never replace someone like Amy.”

— Edited by Ross Fitch