LIHU‘E — Alana Cayabyab, 10, was selected Swimmer of the Meet after earning a qualifying time standard, seven Hawai‘i AA time standards and two Hawai‘i A time standards while posting improvements in eight of her 10 events Sunday at the
LIHU‘E — Alana Cayabyab, 10, was selected Swimmer of the Meet after earning a qualifying time standard, seven Hawai‘i AA time standards and two Hawai‘i A time standards while posting improvements in eight of her 10 events Sunday at the Mokihana Aquatics qualifying swim meet at Kaua‘i High School pool.
Plagued by the weather, Saturday, the meet was concluded Sunday after weather forced cancelation of the Saturday schedule less than an hour into the meet. The start time was pushed back to allow for high school testing to take place.
Mokihana coach Orlando “O” Anaya said the swimmers showed their mettle Sunday when they needed to “make up” their missed races from Saturday, swimming up to nine races within a four-hour span.
“I was so proud of the kids,” Anaya said. “The swimmers were ‘all bus’ up,’ and you could see it in their swims. You could see it in their slow walk, their slumped posture. Yet, they did not give up — not a single one. Each swimmer gave it his, or her, all when ‘all’ was the only thing they had left to give.”
Joining Cayabyab in accomplishments, Daniel Alfiler, 10, posted improvements in nine of his 10 events, his biggest showing coming in the 100 butterfly where he touched at 2:37.63 for a 37.40 improvement over his seeded time.
His other notable swims came in the 100 freestyle (24.06 improvement) and the 50 fly (23.39 improvement).
Cayabyab, en route to her Swimmer of the Meet honor, slicked 2.68 off her seeded time in the girls 50 butterfly, touching at 37.18 for the qualifying standard. She also posted a 5.49 improvement in the 100 breaststroke, a 4.54 improvement in the 100 butterfly and a 9.66 improvement in the 100 Backstroke among her achievements.
Jayden Alfiler, 6, despite finishing second in the 100 freestyle, chopped 31.59 off his seeded swim, touching at 2:40.49.
Fiona Godsill, 7, whacked 38.98 off her 200 freestyle swim for a fourth finish, Nevaeh Ibanez, 8, knocked 75.99 off her 200 freestyle swim for a third finish, Leigh Idica, 7, took 16.78 off her seeded swim in the 100 Freestyle for a first finish, and Chloe Inouye, 6, was 9.72 faster than her seeded swim in the 200 freestyle for a second finish.
Trevyn Nishimura, 7, knocked 26.45 off his 100 backstroke for a top finish, Anaya noting the 7-year-old saying he was not tired after swimming nine races.
“To make his point, he went two second faster in his last race, the 25 freestyle (34.70),” Anaya said. “You go, boy!”
Luke Roberts, 12, posted a 4.62 improvement in his 50 butterfly and Lily Stokes, 12, showed a 19.07 improvement in the 50 yard breaststroke among her three personal best swims.
Samantha Stokes, 10, showed a 4.07 improvement in her 100 freestyle for a second finish, and Tory Taboniar, 11, posted a 1.02 improvement in his sole swim, the 50 butterfly for a Hawai‘i AA standard.
Alana Tamashiro, 12, finished with two Hawai‘i AA standards and eight Hawai‘i A standards, her best swim coming in the 200 individual medley where she finished first for a Hawai‘i AA and an 8.03 improvement on her seeded swim.
Anaya said the qualifying meet over the weekend served as a qualifier for the 33rd Harry Mamizuka Invitational Long Course meet, which will be held April 20 and 21 at the Manoa Valley District Park.
