Keokiana Smith tried and tried. But the best she could do was a third finish at the Kaua‘i Junior Lifeguard island finals yesterday at Kalapaki Beach. But on her fourth try, Smith took the lead and was able to hold
Keokiana Smith tried and tried. But the best she could do was a third finish at the Kaua‘i Junior Lifeguard island finals yesterday at Kalapaki Beach.
But on her fourth try, Smith took the lead and was able to hold on for a first finish, and a state berth, in the Girls 15-17 division of the paddleboard event.
“She’s going to states,” her excited mother said, stopping her photographing long enough to cheer on the leader in the final few feet of water. “She was trying hard, and now she’s going to states.”
Roy Yamagata, one of the senior water safety officers who was at the island competition, said the first finishers of the five events featured at the island competition will have a state berth.
Yamagata said they are looking for athletes who can participate in more than one event. In Smith’s case, she was involved in four events, finishing first in the final event of the day, but garnering two third place finishes and a fourth finish.
Meaghan Sims, who graduated Kaua‘i High School in June, also made a strong showing at the island finals. The Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics swimmer topped both swim events, nailing the run, swim, run event as well as the 200 swim in her age group.
Cleve Zarbaugh, another of the lifeguards, said the presence of the SKA swimmers made a big difference in the strength shown by the Kaua‘i athletes in the swim events.
Matt Ross, another SKA swimmer who showed well in the 1650 event at its recent Makin’ Waves V meet, also topped the run, swim, run event and the 200 swim in his age group, although his mother admitted that he’s a better distance swimmer.
Sarah Faraola will be another strong contender at the state competition July 28 on the Big Island as the competitor in the Girls 13-14 topped the run, swim, run and 1,000 meter run.
A slip at the start of the final heat of flags saw her relegated to second place over Lily Fredeicks and in the 200 swim, Faraola was bettered by fellow SKA swimmers Anya Littlefield and Emma Rausch. She also finished third in the paddleboard event, that finish making her one of the few athletes who placed in all of the day’s events.
Pierce Murphy was another standout in the Boys 13-14 age group, finishing top in the 1,000 meter run and the run, swim, run event. He also had a sixth finish in the Paddleboard.
Caralyn Broyes, who just missed the top spot in Flags to Courtney Cabral, was a top finisher in the Girls 15-17 division in the 1,000 meter run, besting Kaua‘i High School trackster Carly Matsumoto.
Full standings for the island finals can be found in the Scoreboard section above.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
