Three Swim Kauai Aquatics swimmers found new regional time standards, and a number of swimmers added to their state qualifying swims Saturday during the SKA qualifying meet — its second for February — at the YMCA pool.
“There were many SKA swimmers in the hunt for new qualifying times in the North West Regional Championships in Seattle, Washington, and the Hawaiian State Championships which will take place in July on the island of Oahu,” said SKA coach Curt Colby. “Everyone was trying for new personal bests, taking advantage of their training and new skills. It was a day of much celebration.”
Chloe Inouye, Maddie Hoesel, and Hayley Kaeo each achieved new regional cuts. Inouye picked up a pair of new time standards in the 200 freestyle (2 minutes, 11.93 seconds), and in the 500 freestyle (34.98).
“This was her first attempt at the 500 (free) for a very good result,” Colby said.
Hoesel earned a new regional time in the 100 freestyle on a 56.03 swim, and added a state time standard in the 50 freestyle after touching the wall at 26.16. Kaeo picked up her regional time in the 50 freestyle (25.27).
Trevyn Nishimura, 12, topped the field and earned state times by finishing with a perfect meet of five new best times. In that performance, Nishimura added three new state qualifying swims to his arsenal, including swims in the 50 backstroke (34.98), the 50 butterfly (32.30) and the 100 freestyle (1:02.38).
Other swimmers earning state qualifying swims included Mahina Dameron, 11, in the 50 freestyle (28.19), Talen Koerte, 11, in the 50 butterfly (32.30), Tematahira Perreira, 11, in the 200 backstroke (2:34.17) and Kamaira Silva, 13, in the 1,650 freestyle (19:13.01) with an improvement of 10 seconds over her seeded swim.
“What an amazing improvement,” Colby said. “Another exceptional swim came from Lucas McSweeny, 13, who dropped more than three minutes in his 1,650 freestyle swim for a HI-AA time of 20:31.20.”
Three swimmers adding to their respective new best times included Katy Hoesel, 13, picking up a new time in the 100 freestyle (1:11.00), Kaolu Kaeo, 8, in the 50 breaststroke (1:07.01), Pulama Kaeo, 11, in the 50 butterfly (34.39) and Moana Liddell, 6, chopped 24 seconds off her 50 backstroke for a 1:02.86 new best time.
Olivia McSweeny, 15, picked up two personal bests, one in the 100 freestyle (1:07.53) and the other in the 200 freestyle (2:31.46). Xochitl Morales-Widmer, 7, picked up a best time in the 50 freestyle (1:14.86) and Kai Mottley, 13, picked up three best times, the most impressive coming in the 100 butterfly (1:04.97) where he fell just short of the state time standard.
Kiki Nishimura, 7, dropped 10 seconds in the 50 freestyle (53.66),= and Ian Raquel, 12, was four seconds better than his seeded time in the 100 breaststroke (1:30.64). Calvin Rockwell, 13, dropped five ticks off his 100 freestyle (1:30.51) and Dylan Rockwell, 10, dropped four second in his 50 backstroke (51.39).
Kohlton Sanchez, 8, found a best time in the 50 backstroke (1:01.79) and Malia Splittstoesser, 15, dropped 24 seconds in her 1,650 freestyle (19:17.08) to improve her state qualifying time standard for that event.
Sadie Stearns, 14, just missed breaking the minute mark by .08 second in the 100 freestyle (1:00.08). Sammy Stokes, 15, broke water in the 1,650 freestyle (22:23.59) for the first time following a rest. She picked up a best time in the 100 freestyle by touching the wall at 1:05.99.
Evan Strong, 8, dropped three seconds in the 50 freestyle (47.56). Isaac Vallance, 15, picked up best times in the 100 freestyle (53.59) and 500 freestyle (47.56). His brother, Micah Vallance, 11, picked up two best times in the 500 freestyle (6:44.56) and the 100 freestyle (1:13.35).
Ellie Bangan, 11, was one of two first-time swimmers in the SKA meet and competed in four events. Kamalei Berg, 14, also was a first-timer, swimming in three events.
“Congratulations to all on a great swim,” Colby said. “Thank you to the parent volunteers who worked overtime in February to host two meets. I am so proud of all the SKA swimmers, and their commitment to work hard.”
Next on the SKA calendar, the team of Zachary Safford — who will attend Purdue in the fall — Akira Williams, Ryden Williams and Isaac Vallance will be in the Sectional Meet in Seattle, Washington on March 15 through 18.
The following weekend is the North West Regional meet where Inouye, Hayley Kaeo, Maddie Hoesel, and Isaac Vallance earned qualifying times.
Following those two meets, SKA will gear up for the Kauai Classic which will be contested at the YMCA Pool on April 7 and 8.
