O‘AHU — Kate Machorek, 13, set the pace for six Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics swimmers during the 2011 Hawai‘i Senior Long Course Championships on O‘ahu over the weekend. Machorek finished third overall with 91 points, her greatest individual swim coming in
O‘AHU — Kate Machorek, 13, set the pace for six Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics swimmers during the 2011 Hawai‘i Senior Long Course Championships on O‘ahu over the weekend.
Machorek finished third overall with 91 points, her greatest individual swim coming in the 100 Meter Backstroke where she touched the wall at 1:10.92 for second place. Overall, Machorek finished in the Top Five or better in all six swims.
Her performance set the pace for the SKA contingent who finished fifth place overall out of 15 teams. Individually, Machorek, Yasmine Ware, 14, and Anya Littlefield, 17, finished in the top Seven from a field of 57 girls who swam at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa swimming complex.
The Senior Championship meet is designed to pit swimmers against each other based on times, not ages as is the usual format for Age Group swimming. This brought together swimmers ranging in age from 13 to 26, including swimmers from the University of Hawai‘i as well as those training for the Olympic trials next summer.
“This meet is a great precursor to our State Championships next month in Kona,” said SKA Coach Billy Brown. “It was fun to swim at the UH pool and the kids were amazing. They really represented Kaua‘i well. Their sportsmanship on deck was second to none and the times were phenomenal. Our relay teams were outstanding, achieving three new Sectional Times for the Senior Sectional Meet in Seattle next March.”
Machorek, Littlefield and Ware combined with Sophie Britzmann, 16, to gain Sectional times in the 200, 400, and 800 meter Freestyle Relays while finishing third in the 200 meter, second in the 400 meter and third in the 800 meter events.
The same trio teamed with breaststroker Tambrina Fairbanks, 15, to clinch third place in the 200 meter Medley relay and second place in the 400 meter Medley Relay.
Ware commanded the sprint events, setting the pace on her first finish in the Women’s 50 meter Freestyle where she touched in a 27.50 swim. Ware, a freshman in high school this year, finished the meet in seventh place or high on each of her six events, earning a sixth place in individual standings with 78 points.
Littlefield found gold in the 1500 meter Freestyle on an 18:29.16 swim for the mile. She finished in the top seven in each of her five swims, ending seventh in the overall points with 76 points.
Britzmann earned positions in the finals of all six of her events, finishing with 21 points, her biggest swim coming in the 400 meter Individual Medley where she touched at 5:55.42 for ninth place.
Fairbanks’ top performance came in the 200 meter Breaststroke where she stopped the clocks at 3:01.39 for seventh place toward her 18 points. She also posted a 1:25.90 swim in the 100 meter Breaststroke for 11th place.
Tyler Keith, 15, made the finals in both the 400 and 1500 meter Freestyle events. But his best event came in the 100 meter Freestyle where he picked up a 2.35-second improvement on his 1:02.47 swim.
The public can see some of these swimmers in action Saturday when SKA hosts the American Renaissance Academy on O‘ahu for a one-day meet at the YMCA pool in Puhi.
