PUHI — Akira Williams, 10, had a “breakout” meet, Saturday, picking up three new State Qualifying times during the Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics meet at the YMCA pool. Akira’s three new times came in his four individual events, the biggest gain
PUHI — Akira Williams, 10, had a “breakout” meet, Saturday, picking up three new State Qualifying times during the Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics meet at the YMCA pool.
Akira’s three new times came in his four individual events, the biggest gain coming in the 100 Yard Backstroke where he touched at 1:30.43 for an 8.64 improvement over his seeded time for one of the three new state times.
Akira also picked up state times in the 50 Yard Backstroke, touching the wall at 42.43 and the 100 Yard Freestyle (1:12.95). His fourth event, the 100 Yard Individual Medley, saw Akira shave 5.80 off his seeded time, coming close to a State time standard.
Stacey Machorek, serving as one of the event timers, said there were 11 swimmers from the American Renaissance Academy of O‘ahu joining the field of 48 swimmers from SKA, noting the additional competition spurred athletes from both teams, with 43 of the SKA swimmers finishing with new personal bests, 12 of those resulting in new Hawaiian Swimming time standards.
Perfect meet honors, where an individual swimmer achieved new times in each event participated, went to Francesca Bivens, 7, Lei‘ohu Chun, 9, Alex Hashimoto, 15, Sarah Keith, 11, Juliah Peck, 10, Maya Rivera, 11, Makena Tafoya, 11, Ava Wagner, 12, and the Williams brothers, Akira and Ryden.
Akira’s younger brother, Ryden, 8, pocketed his first-ever AA time in the 50 Yard Freestyle event, touching at 37.17 for a 5.99-second improvement over his seeded time. He added “A” time standards in the 50 Yard Breaststroke (56.06) and the 100 Yard Freestyle (1:25.83).
Twins Ada and Ari Hendrickson, 8, were two of the four new SKA swimmers in their first swim meet, Adan finishing with two “B” time standards in his 50 Yard Freestyle and 50 Yard Backstroke in his four events.
Braydon King, 8, and Brianna Ryan, 9, also made their debut at this meet.
“I was so impressed with our stroke development with the younger kids,” said SKA Coach Billy Brown. “There were a lot of great races.”
Senior swimmer Kate Machorek, 13, coming off a strong showing at the Senior Championships last week, picked up another State Qualifying swim in the 200 Yard Breaststroke, stopping the clock at 2:44.39 for a 5.49-second improvement on her seeded time.
Wagner, one of the perfect meet swimmers, knocked off 42.27 seconds off her seeded time time the 500 Yard Freestyle, touching at 6:24.75 for an “AA” time standard.
Athena Alexander, 11, Sam Britzmann, 12, Hashimoto, Peck and Riley Young, 13, each pocketed a new “A” time standard while Britnee Akau, 11, Malina Dwight, 12, and Mikayla Holzman, 7, each finished with new “B” time standards.
Tambrina Fairbanks, 15, finished on a 5:21.89 swim for a 17.39-second improvement in her “AA” time in the 400 Yard IM. Keith chopped 37.85 seconds off her time in the 20 Yard Freestyle (3:07.67) and Anela Rapozo, 9, diced 14.16 seconds off her best time in the 100 Yard Freestyle (2:38.95). Zach Safford, 11, encouraged by the swimming of American Renaissance’s Michael Gillis, 16, in the Boys 11 and Over 500 Yard Freestyle, finished second at 6:45.71, chopping 22.26 seconds off his seeded time.
“We are looking forward to the State Championships next month in Kona,” Brown said. “Right now, we’re planning on bringing 10 swimmers to compete in the four-day meet. We also have all of our older swimmers heading into the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation high school swimming season, competing for all four high schools on the island this year. There are a lot of good things ahead for the team.”
Visit www.swimkauai.com for more information on SKA, or drop by the YMCA in Puhi.
