The KIF entered a new era Saturday at its first pentagonal swim meet of the season. This was the first weekend that the KIF will recognize swimming records other then KIF records, according to Kaua’i High Athletic Director Cherelene Quiones.
The KIF entered a new era Saturday at its first pentagonal swim meet of the season.
This was the first weekend that the KIF will recognize swimming records other then KIF records, according to Kaua’i High Athletic Director Cherelene Quiones.
Current rules allow KIF records to be broken at the KIF championship meet only. While this is common practice among federations across the country, it has never been popular among coaches. Although it is still unclear how or by whom these records will be monitored it is a very positive step forward for KIF swimming as it will provide more times and/or records to break.
This incentive proved fruitful already.
Three individual swimmers qualified for the state championship on Saturday. That is more individual state swimmers than Kaua’i has seen in the last 10 years combined.
Kapa’a’s Jeremy Albano made his first state time in the 100 breast. Albano also won the 200 free.
Kaua’i’s Fletcher Parker became the first male swimmer to qualify in the 500 -yard free in a very long time (more then 20 years), and Kula’s Katrina Hettinger also made her first state time in the 100-breast. She was equally impressive winning the girls 100-free.
Other multiple event winners (record holders) include Kauais Amanda Scheppers, 200-IM & 500-free / Island Schools Erin Emberson, 200 free & 100 fly / Kulas Kaikea Goo, 50 free & 100 back. Kapaa also had a state time for the boys 200 medley relay.
Final team score has Kauai winning boys and girls by 20 and 8 points respectively.
“How to motivate, that is hard, especially with the boys” says Kauai high 4th year head coach Melissa Hall in reference to her teams seemingly unbeatable position. “We try to teach them to be aware of the clock. They (swimmers) do great at meets but at practice its another story”
“Its good to have more swimmers from Kauai qualify for states then more kids can see where its (swimming) at, and Kaua’i is not where its at” Hall says.
She continues, “But I gotta say that in my four years coaching on this island this is the best swimming I have ever seen and Waimea was not even there. Waimea has some great swimmers”.
Hall thinks its great that Waimea was at the Kalani Invitational in Honolulu instead of the first KIF meet of the season.
“Good for them,” says Hall. “That experience is so good for the kids.”
Waimea fared well at Kalani Swimming in two finals and two consolidation finals (9th to 16th place) events.
Complete results of how Waimea did at Kalani can be seen at the web site www.hawaiiswim.org.
*Note – there is a correction that needs to be made from previous issues of the Garden Island. The Kula hosted swim meets in the next two weeks will take place at Kaua’i High, NOT Kapa’a. Full results for Saturday’s swim meets will be printed in Wednesday’s Garden Island Sports
