PUHI — Swim Kauai Aquatics’ annual Kauai Classic is the local swim club’s biggest meet of the year, spread over two days and wrapping up Sunday at the YMCA pool.
The meet allows swimmers to add state qualifying and other time standards to their respective portfolios, and is also a time when it acknowledges the achievements of its graduating senior swimmers.
“We had Aulea Swim Club participating at the meet,” said SKA coach Curt Colby. “Kilarney Swim Team could not make the meet this year, but promised to come back next year. Most of the swimmers ended up with at least one best time over the two days of swimming.”
Talen Koerte, 11, Tematahira Perreira, 12, and Kai Mottley, 13, are SKA swimmers who finished with new state qualifying, or HI AAA, time standards.
Koerte finished with three new state swims, dropping 17 seconds in the 200 backstroke (2 minutes, 45.32 seconds), getting a five-second improvement in the 100 freestyle (1:02.89), and tackling the 200 butterfly for the first time to touch the wall with a state qualifying 2:48.35.
Perreira’s best swim in his perfect meet, improving in all of his swims, came in the 200 backstroke (2:39.30) where he sliced 21 seconds off his seeded swim, and Mottley’s state cut emerged in the 200 butterfly (2:25.40) where he attacked the event for the first time.
Mahina Dameron, 11, picked up a state swim in the 500 freestyle (5:55.27), Chloe Inouye, 11, picked up a state cut in the 50 backstroke (32.89), and Kamaira Silva, 13, added a state swim in the 100 freestyle (57.68).
Hawaii qualifying AA time standards enable swimmers to compete in off-island meets such as the Mamizuka meet on Oahu. Six SKA swimmers emerged from the two days of swimming for new AA times, including Tyler Tanaka, 13, who picked up two swims — one in the 100 freestyle (58.27), and the other in the 1,000 freestyle (11:34.71) — to add to his portfolio during his perfect meet.
Sammy Stokes, 15, posted a perfect meet while adding a new AA swim in the 100 breaststroke (1:23.14). TaiMana Kjeldsen, 10, also posted a perfect meet while adding the 100 breaststroke (1:38.27) to his portfolio.
“Ian Raquel, 12, had some major improvements in this meet,” Colby said. “He dropped five seconds in the 100 freestyle (1:10.60), and added an AA time in the 200 Individual Medley (2:53.14).”
Lucas McSweeny, 13, picked up a pair of AA time standards, one in the 200 IM (2:33.20), and the other in the 1,000 freestyle (12:16.04).
“HI A times are accepted by some off-island meets,” Colby said. “But it is another mark of progress for swimmers. We had three swimmers making new HI A times — all of them having perfect meets.”
Olivia McSweeny, 15, dropped 10 seconds off her seeded swim in the 200 backstroke (2:45.06). Ahonui Perreira, 9, picked up three HI A swims in the 50 backstroke (47.93), 200 IM (3:42.03), and the 100 freestyle (1:26.68), and Micah Vallance, 11, picked up a new HI A swim in the 50 butterfly (37.54).
In addition to the swimmers adding to their portfolio, other SKA swimmers posting perfect meets include Alana Cayabyab, 15, Maiha Kjeldsen, 7, and Evan Strong, 8.
Emalia Perreira, 5, and Hi‘ilei Berg, 6, were swimming in their first meet and were excellent in the 8 and Under age group, Colby said.
The Kauai Classic was also a venue to recognize three of its high school graduating seniors — Zachary Safford, Jach Machorek, and Dutch Fairbanks.
“Jack was one of the original SKA swimmers when the program started,” said Colby. “Zach, Jack, and Dutch have been swimming together at SKA for nine years. Jack will be attending West Point where he will be swimming with his sister Kate, Zach has been accepted at Notre Dame, and Dutch will be looking at either joining the U.S. Coast Guard, or the Maui Coast Guard Divers Rescue Team.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
