Swim Kauai Aquatic water girl Chloe Inouye sparkled at the 19th Annual Bill Smith Invitational swim meet hosted by the Kamehameha Swim Club, which wrapped up Sunday at the K. Mark Takai Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center on Oahu.
Inouye, swimming in the 11-12 girls age group, broke a Hawaiian age swimming record in the 50 breaststroke after touching the wall at 30.37 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of runner up swimmer, Sala Yasumi of the host Kamehameha Swim Club who tapped the clock at 32.54. Inouye’s swim broke a record set in 2017 by Ashley Zapata who posted a 31.33 swim.
The record-breaking swim put her No. 1 in the United States ranking.
“She topped the small crew we had at Bill Smith,” said Curt Colby, the SKA coach. “She ended up winning high-point honors for the 11-12 girls after winning seven of her eight races. In race 8, she finished second. All of her race times were ZONE times which means she qualifies to represent Hawaii at the North West Zone Championships in Oregon this summer. Chloe has continued this year to improve in each meet, and with her continued dedication, she has a shot at the National age group for the 50 breaststroke. She is now ranked nationally in multiple events.”
Colby said Inouye’s work ethic as inspired others on the team.
Tyler Tanaka, 13, finished the Bill Smith with a perfect meet, leading with a second-place finish in the 200 breaststroke (2:24.99) where he trimmed seven seconds off his previous best swim.
Kai Mottley, 13, came up one race short of a perfect showing despite taking the 200 butterfly on a swim of 2:12.13.
Ahonui Perreira, 10, was also shy of a perfect meet while also coming close to making state cuts. His biggest swim came in the 200 freestyle where he posted a 23-second improvement.
Heidee-Lei Kaeo, 11, finished with six best times at the Bill Smith topped by a 14-second drop in the 200 individual medley where she touched the wall at 2:30.38, and in the 200 freestyle where she touched at 2:08.92. Overall, Kaeo now holds nine state swim standards.
Talen Koerte, 12, also finished with six best times during the meet in Waipahu, Oahu. His swim in the 200 IM (2:40.22) earned him a 38-second improvement, one of five new state swim standards earned in this meet toward his 10 total holdings.
Kamaira Silva, 13, added a pair of state cuts at the Bill Smith to bring her total state holdings to five. Her best swim on Oahu came in the 50 freestyle (26.01) and the 200 freestyle (2:05.31).
“It was thrilling to watch these swimmers perform so well through two days at the meet,” Colby said. “We are back in the pool and working hard to have a great showing at states this year. The energy at practice is now electric. Thank you to our great coaching staff of Kailee Mu, Kathleen Littlefield, Whitney Mitchell, Abi Dawn, Missy Hoesel, and Chris Mottley, and our part time coaches Alaina Mandel and Michael Whitehead. And, as always, thank you to the SKA board of directors and parent volunteers.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.