Meaghan Sims, swimming in the Open class, paced the five Mokihana Aquatics swimmers who took part in the 7th Annual Bill Smith Invitational on O‘ahu over the weekend. With just five swimmers, Mokihana Aquatics came home with two points in
Meaghan Sims, swimming in the Open class, paced the five Mokihana Aquatics swimmers who took part in the 7th Annual Bill Smith Invitational on O‘ahu over the weekend.
With just five swimmers, Mokihana Aquatics came home with two points in the team competition, finishing near the bottom of the field.
However, coach Orlando “O” Anaya said the trip was not about getting team points. Rather, it was intended to give his swimmers experience at big meets while working to qualify for the state meet in December.
“These swimmers are exactly where they need to be,” Anaya said. “They’re working hard and picking up their qualifying times.”
Sims competed in 10 events and returned home with five qualifying times and four Hawai‘i AA times.
Yasmine Ware, who recently enjoyed sizeable personal gains in her previous off-island meet, also fared well at the Bill Smith, Anaya said.
“She bettered her times in five of the nine events she competed in, and that’s good,” Anaya said.
Ware came home with a qualifying time in the 50 Free (33.62) with Hawai‘i AA times in her remaining eight events.
Tyson Chihara, swimming in the Boys 15-16 division, competed in 10 events, earning qualifying times for three events and Hawai‘i AA times for the remaining seven events.
Kelsey Tanaka provided competition for Chihara in the Boys 15-16 division. He competed in nine events, earning one qualifying time and Hawai‘i AA times in the remaining eight events.
Kelly Culliney, one of the Mokihana younger swimmers, competed in seven events in the Girls 11-12 division. She finished with Hawai‘i AA times in four events and Hawai‘i A times in the remaining three events.
Eddie event set to go
The Garden Island
What is the perfect early Christmas gift for a big-wave rider?
An invite to the Eddie, of course.
In Huntington Beach yesterday, the 2006-07 invitee list for The Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau was officially announced.
Scheduled to take place at the hallowed grounds of Waimea Bay, on the North Shore of O‘ahu, between December 1 and February 28, The Quiksilver, a one-day event, requires a minimum of 20-foot surf.
The event, founded in 1986, honors the legendary Hawaiian waterman Eddie Aikau who lost his life in a brave and heroic attempt to save his fellow crewmates who had capsized in the treacherous Ka‘iwi Channel northwest of Lana‘i. While the rest of the crew drifted in peril, Eddie, a North Shore lifeguard who had saved many lives during his career, grabbed a board and tried to make the 12-mile paddle to shore to get help.
Eddie went.
Although the crew was located the next day, Eddie was never found.
It was the largest air-sea rescue search in the history of the Hawaiian Islands.
The best big-wave riders in the world participate in The Eddie. Look on page B2 for a complete list of invitees.
